The Fourth Period suggests that the Red Wings and Lucas Raymond are close on a long-awaited contract

This afternoon, David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period offered a report sure to be welcome to Red Wings fans.  "Contract negotiations between Detroit & RFA Lucas Raymond have picked up," wrote Pagnotta on Twitter.  "And I'm told the two sides are focusing on a long-term deal.  Still work to be done, they're not there yet, but talks are ongoing."  It is certainly a more optimistic update from a Red Wings perspective than Pagnotta's last report on the as-of-yet unresolved negotiation, in which he said Raymond and Detroit weren't close on an extension agreement in late August. 

At the time of Pagnotta's previous update, I made that case that being close or not close is not especially important compared to the fundamental contract-or-no-contract binary.  What matters is ultimately when Raymond will be available to play for the Red Wings again and the terms of the new contract, and graduated markers on the way to that outcome (the ones really worth evaluating) hold minimal significance.  Whatever you think of the quality of Pagnotta's reporting, an inverted version of the same logic applies to this update: to almost have a contract is still not to have a contract.  However, as training camp creeps closer, it is of course a positive (and probably natural) development for talks to be developing.  

Perhaps the most significant nugget of this latest update is the idea that the contract under consideration is a "long-term" one.  Of course, the phrase isn't entirely precise.  To me, "long-term" probably implies somewhere between five and the maximum eight seasons.  Regardless of the exact contours, if Pagnotta is to be believed, one half of the offseason's most important business.  At which point full focus can shift to his German training partner and host, Moritz Seider.

Also from THN Detroit

Former Detroit Blueliner Retires, Takes Coaching Job with Rangers

What Is Tarasenko's Ideal Role in Detroit?

Lucas Raymond, Moritz Seider Training Together in Germany

Former Red Wing Traded in DeBrincat Deal Will Play in Switzerland

3 Breakout Candidates for the Red Wings this Season

Seider, Raymond, and Training Camp Looms: The Silky Mitten State Episode 37