Lucas Raymond's Star Turn Proves Value of NHL's Global Series
When the NHL or any league sets off to play games in a foreign locale, there is an inevitable question of purpose.
It's not hard to generate a sense of occasion at these events; the travel, the new venues, the disruption to the regular season's rhythm, and the unusual start times lend these affairs an inherent distinction from the rest of the games games on any given team's schedule, but it can be trickier to pin down the purpose of these games beyond a momentary weekend of fanfare.
However, in the case of the Detroit Red Wings' trip to Stockholm for the 2023 NHL Global Series, a sense of purpose becomes clear the moment you zoom in on Lucas Raymond, the lone Swedish international representing the current iteration of the NHL franchise's with a closer connection to and happier history with the country than any other.
Nov 9, 2023; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Red Wings left wing Lucas Raymond (23) looks to score on Montreal Canadiens goaltender Cayden Primeau (30) in the second period at Little Caesars Arena.
Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
For Raymond, this trip is much more than two divisional games in a different arena to the customary ones; it's an opportunity to provide live NHL hockey to his community—whether that's to family members who can't make the trans-Atlantic flight to see a game in the United States or kids who, as once described a young Lucas Raymond, rely on YouTube for their fix of the world's best hockey league, unable to consume many games on television because of the time difference.
Raymond grew up an avid fan of NHL hockey but seldom watched full games. Last week, before the Red Wings set off for Europe, he recalled falling asleep within ten minutes of puck drop having tried to stay up for the 2014 Stanley Cup Final between the Los Angeles Kings and New York Rangers.
For Raymond, NHL fandom was mediated by a laptop screen, logged onto YouTube. Not watching many actual games, he didn't have a favorite team, but—like any hockey-playing kid of his generation—was drawn to Pavel Datsyuk.
“With the time difference, it’s tough to watch [live NHL] games,” Raymond said. “Growing up I didn’t watch a lot of games, mostly YouTube and stuff like that. [The Global Series] is a great thing that the NHL is doing: It’s growing our game. For a lot of Swedes and young kids to be able to watch these games is going to be exciting.”
He can also speak first hand to the excitement that comes for Swedish kids upon seeing NHL stars in person. He recalls the giddiness he experienced as a teenager when he saw Connor McDavid walking around the streets of his hometown, Gothenburg (about five hours west and south of Stockholm, on Sweden's opposite coast). McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers were in town for the NHL's 2018 Global Series.
And, even if he didn't grow up a fan himself, Raymond can testify to the Red Wings' cultural power in his home country.
“The Red Wings are probably the most popular team in Sweden, just considering all the Swedes who have played [for the team],” Raymond explained last week. “I know a lot of them are going to be there as well, which is going to be exciting.”
To his coach Derek Lalonde, Raymond is a perfect ambassador between Detroit and Sweden. "He's such an important part of our team," Lalonde said at a press conference earlier this week. "Extremely well-liked...We've asked so much of him early on in his career, and good for him, he's earned everything he's gotten."
"I probably can't appreciate how much it means to him to come to his home country," he continued. "You saw he had jump in practice...He seems to be taking it all in well."
Moritz Seider—from Germany but having played a year for Rogle in the SHL before moving to North America—has noted a more rudimentary source of pleasure for Raymond in returning home: "I think he definitely has a lot of joy speaking his Swedish language again." Seider's observation provides a reminder that however long Raymond plays in the NHL, he may never play a "home" game quite like this one again.
The third-year defenseman—who broke into the league with him—also commended Raymond for his work as the team's de facto tour guide in Stockholm, while acknowledging that exposure to Sweden's culinary tradition did prove daunting to certain Red Wings.
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"We went to a fish restaurant, and a couple guys got scared because they didn't see any steak on the menu, but we got that figured out pretty quick," said Seider.
In the end though, as important as this experience might be in bringing live NHL hockey to young fans or Red Wing fans young and old around Sweden, it's a fundamentally personal opportunity for Raymond—showing that same live hockey to friends and family who couldn't see him stateside.
“It’s a special moment for me, my family and people who might not be able to come over here to see me,” Raymond said. “To see me play an NHL game, I think they’re excited for that.” “Still working on my grandma to be there,” he added. “She’s a little undecided. She thinks it’s a little too loud, but it’s going to be a great time either way.”
Here's hoping Grandma Raymond comes around by puck drop on Thursday.
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