Dec 18, 2021; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Red Wings left wing Lucas Raymond (23) skates with the puck during the second period against the New Jersey Devils at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
As the NHL pauses following another Covid-19 wave across the world, it’s a moment to pause and see that the Detroit Red Wings brought a few gifts to fans early this season.
Two go without mentioning–the stellar play of rookie sensations Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond have kept Red Wings fans glued to games, anticipating the next milestone one of the two will reach. Raymond has been mentioned in the same breath as the man who drafted him, Steve Yzerman, in terms of stats he’s compiled. Seider has been nothing less than impressive, logging big boy minutes and showing offense Detroit could have only dreamed of when they selected him sixth overall in 2019.
So far, so good.
Red Wings have a stocked pipeline
It doesn’t stop there, though. Simon Edvinsson is having a great year with Frolunda, ramping up anticipation on what a Red Wings blue line could potentially look like. Jonatan Berggren is looking more and more ready in Grand Rapids. Donovan Sebrango is appearing another great defensive pairing option and has been one of Grand Rapids’ better defenseman.
This doesn’t go over all of the impressing players in the pipeline but what it does do is highlight just how well Yzerman has done replenishing what was a bare cupboard. It doesn’t necessarily mean everything will pan out, but it certainly bodes for a much brighter future, especially with how well Seider and Raymond have performed.
Red Wings hockey has been more enjoyable to watch
Another gift: enjoyable hockey to watch. The Red Wings have been great at home, and provided some exciting games to watch this season. But their dominance at the LCA has been really good, creating a feel in the new arena that hasn’t been experienced with how it timed on the rebuild. Beyond that, the Red Wings have consistently been in games, and played full hockey games. There have certainly been a couple clunkers but it’s a far cry from the blowout hockey we’d been accustomed to seeing.
It’s also shown how the team Yzerman is crafting is coming together–from the rookies he’s drafted to the players he’s re-signing.
If it continues to come together as it’s showing signs of doing, it’s only going to be that much more exciting as the rebuild wanes, and the team is better.