Detroit Red Wing fans have become well-accustomed to seeing Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond do their thing on a nightly basis. Larkin, the Red Wings’ captain and longest-tenured player, is the team’s top center and is on pace to record his fourth-straight 30-goal season. Raymond, the team’s top pick in the 2020 draft and a constant fixture on the top line next to Larkin, leads the Red Wings in point production this season after breaking out in the second half of last season.
Fans from around the NHL are not as privy to what Larkin and Raymond bring to the table – and understandably so. The Red Wings have not made the playoffs since the Obama administration, and it becomes easy to tune a team out during a stretch of mediocrity that long. However, the NHL’s decision to host the 4 Nation’s Faceoff this year instead of the traditional All-Star weekend has put a spotlight on underappreciated players like Larkin and Raymond.
While Red Wings fans beam with pride, Larkin and Raymond have reintroduced themselves and recalibrated the public’s perception of them. By putting themselves on the map, they’re putting Detroit on the map too.
Raymond a Stand-Out for Team Sweden
When line combinations for each team participating in the 4 Nations tournament started to trickle out, Raymond found himself as low in the lineup as he has ever been since joining the Red Wings in the 2021-22 season. Of course, when it comes to an international best-on-best tournaments, you really get to see the depth of talent these nations produce.
Raymond joined Jesper Bratt of the New Jersey Devils and Joel Eriksson Ek of the Minnesota Wild on Team Sweden’s third line. By the end of the Swedes’ first game, their third line was noted as the team’s most effective. Raymond even earned recognition as Sweden’s lone “star of the game” thanks to his two-assist effort. Even though Sweden ultimately finished last in the 4 Nations Face-Off, Raymond held his own throughout the tournament, finishing tied with Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson for the team lead in points.
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Red Wings fans have known what Raymond is capable of, especially coming off of last season. This season, combined with his stint with Team Sweden, has put the hockey world on notice: he is for real, and he’s not even in his prime yet. Also, he seems to be establishing a signature move, having pulled this off wearing Sweden’s blue and yellow as well as the Red Wings’ red and white:
Leave it to a best-on-best international tournament to bring out the best in the Red Wings’ burgeoning superstar.
Larkin an Underrated Gem for Team USA
The Red Wings’ captain may have been wearing an unfamiliar 21 on the back of his sweater, but his play throughout the tournament is what Detroit has gotten used to seeing from number 71 in red.
Originally placed on Team USA’s fourth line, Larkin was tasked with bringing energy and two-way proficiency to the Americans’ lineup. By the end of the tournament, he found himself playing alongside USA captain Auston Matthews and Brady Tkachuk of the Ottawa Senators. Larkin found a steady role on the penalty kill where his strong skating ability and defensive acumen was put fully on display.
As is typical for Larkin, he didn’t do anything super flashy throughout the tournament, but you couldn’t help but to notice him whenever he was on the ice. His tenacity and underrated offensive ability earned him a lot of fans over the course of the tournament.
Larkin *only* had two points in four games as a member of Team USA, but you could make the argument that nobody raised their profile more. Almost 10 years after Larkin announced himself by setting a new record in the Fastest Skater competition, he let everyone know that he is more than just a good skater. Wearing the Red, White and Blue on a stage like this for the first time in his career, he announced himself as a star.
I Thought the Red Wings Didn’t Have Any Stars
While it was a popular sentiment among many, including the Red Wings’ previous head coach, Larkin and Raymond have assured the hockey world that there is star power on the ice in Detroit.
Red Wings fans knew going into the 4 Nations Face-Off that Larkin is the heart and soul of their team. Now the whole world knows he’s an elite competitor that makes good things happen whenever he is on the ice.
Red Wings fans knew going into this tournament that Raymond is on the precipice of superstardom. Now the whole world knows he’s part of the next wave of elite talent coming out of Sweden.
All-Star weekend is meant to put a spotlight on the best talent from around the NHL. It has failed to do that in recent years, but that’s what made this 4 Nations tournament so special. Great hockey was played by all four participating nations, and now fans are more aware of the talent across the league – most notably in Detroit.
