"Obviously a Lot of Fun and Makes You Want More": Lucas Raymond Reflects on the 4 Nations

On Friday morning, Lucas Raymond returned to Detroit Red Wings practice for the first time since participating in the 4 Nations Face-Off.  Representing Sweden, Raymond was arguably the most consistent player for his team at the event and recorded three assists in his three games of action.

Reflecting on the event from his locker after practice, Raymond expressed how he enjoyed taking part in the event, "Not only the games, but just being around the guys...It felt like it was 23 leaders in every locker room, so it's kinda fun to see how everyone manages their game."  The 22-year-old described the event as "obviously a lot of fun and makes you want more," looking ahead to next year's Milano Cortina Olympics.

Red Wings coach Todd McLellan said of Raymond's performance at the tournament, "His game that we see here on a regular basis transferred to that type of environment, and I think any time that happens, that's a real good thing...Sometimes players go and try to do too much, or they're afraid of the stage and they don't want to make mistakes, so they shrivel up. That wasn't him at all."

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Team Sweden was the only team at the 4 Nations not to record a loss in regulation (beating the U.S. after it had already secured its place in the final and losing in overtime to Canada and Finland), but that was insufficient to qualify for the championship. 

Of that dynamic, Raymond said, "It's for sure [frustrating], but at the same time, we only won one game, so we knew we had to win at least two and unfortunately that didn't happen, but the games were unreal."  Fortunately, that did not entirely diminish the experience of the tournament, with Raymond adding,  "I think everyone was very excited. I said the first game against Canada was probably one of the coolest games I've played, if not the coolest."

As McLellan pointed out, for both Raymond and Dylan Larkin, strong international performances offer a unique confidence boost.  "You always wonder, or at least I believe you always wonder, where you fit in," the coach said.  "You kinda know where you fit in on your own team, and if you happen to sign with somebody else or get traded, you figure out where you're sitting on the bus with that team. But where do you sit worldwide?" Both Larkin and Raymond left little doubt they belong at or near the top of their respective international heaps.

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