Raymond Agent: Deal With Red Wings Not Imminent

The veil of secrecy shrouding the contract talks between the Detroit Red Wings and restricted free agent forward Lucas Raymond has been pulled back slightly. And what this peek behind behind the curtain is revealing will not be well-received by Red Wings fans.

With two weeks until the club is set to open main training camp in Traverse City, the Raymond camp is saying that there currently is no common ground in place for the framework of a new contract.

“Today there is no proposal that is equal,” Peter Werner, Raymond’s agent, told writer Gunnar Nordstrom of Swedish website Expressen.

Nordstrom also spoke with Red Wings vice-president of hockey operations Nicklas Lidstrom about Raymond’s status. Lidstrom’s response was to acknowledge that the two sides were talking about “big money” in their contract discussions.

2. Lucas Raymond

PuckGM's went slightly shorter with #LGRW teammate Lucas Raymond.

The average contract by PuckGM's is 6 years @ $7.43M Cap Hit

Does that fit into the Yzerplan?https://t.co/mCRZjhIG4i

— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) August 26, 2024

Projections are that Raymond could be seeking a new deal ranging in the $7.5 million per season range.

“The hopes are high that we will find a solution,” Werner said. “Lucas wants nothing more than to play hockey.”

For his part, Raymond has been insisting all along that he’ll be letting his negotiators handle all of the contract talks.

“I think I leave that to my agent and the people around me helping me,” Raymond said earlier in the summer.

Certainly, it only makes sense for Raymond to shoot for the moon with his new contract. He’s coming off a career year, collecting 31 goals and a team-leading 72 points. As Detroit was battling for a playoff spot, Raymond would score 14 goals over the club’s final 18 games.

No Word On Red Wings Seider, Berggren

Raymond is among three The Red Wings are RFAs. Defenseman Moritz Seider and forward Jonatan Berggren also remain without contracts as training camp nears.

“I get both sides,” Seider said shortly after the 2023-24 season reached its conclusion. “In the end it’s a business.”