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Detroit Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond a good fit for Eastern Conference team?

Originally posted on Blade of Steel
By Brett Thomas Wills | Last updated Sep 10, 2024 8:45 AM ET

Detroit Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond remains as an unsigned RFA. An Eastern Conference Canadian team could benefit from trading for him.

The 2024-25 regular season starts in just under a month, and although camps haven't opened, many general managers seem keen on upgrading their team either because they feel that what they have isn't sufficient or an asset they have may not want to to be part of the picture long term.

One such team looking at possibly shaking up things is the Detroit Red Wings. While they have several restricted free agents who have yet to put pen to paper, moving 22-year-old Gothenburg, Sweden native Lucas Raymond could be an obvious choice with a trade partner being none other than the team that plays in La Belle Province.

The deal itself would centre around Raymond being sent to Montreal for defensive prospect Lane Hutson and a first-round pick. While it may not make a ton of sense, it could help both teams for different reasons.

The Canadiens have an influx of left-shot defenceman with the likes of Mike Matheson, Kaiden Guhle and Arber Xjekaj, so keeping Hutson in the fold doesn't necessarily make sense. Adding Raymond could help bolster their left side, which has a stud in Cole Caufield and potential after that, but the trade would instantly give Montreal two solid options on the left side.

Detroit, on the other hand, would immediately benefit from adding Hutson. While their defencemen aren't terrible, apart from Seider, who remains another one of their RFA's unsigned, they are aged.

While all of this is hypothetical and may never materialize, it's interesting to take a deep dive into what teams need to get or remain competitive. We'll likely keep hearing rumours like this as the season approaches.

This article first appeared on Blade of Steel and was syndicated with permission.

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