Detroit Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond has been turning heads with his standout performance for Sweden in the Olympics. But despite the accolades, Raymond was left with a sense of emptiness following Sweden’s elimination after a 2-1 overtime loss to the USA in the quarterfinals.
“It doesn’t feel good at all,” Raymond shared with Expressen. “We’ve put in so much time and effort, and now we don’t have the chance to continue. It just feels empty.”
Raymond was a key player for Sweden, leading the team with 2 goals and 7 assists over five games. His exceptional playmaking was on display with a perfect pass to Mika Zibanejad for Sweden’s lone goal in the quarterfinals.
Former Swedish NHL star Håkan Loob praised Raymond’s performance during the HBO Max broadcast, highlighting the young forward’s skillful contributions.
With Sweden's Olympic journey over, Raymond will have some downtime before returning to Detroit. Red Wings coach Todd McLellan noted, “We’ll give them some time. They’ve adapted to a different time zone and need a bit of rest.”
During his long flight back to North America, Raymond plans to immerse himself in books, a hobby he’s embraced wholeheartedly. “I started reading last year.
Got a Kindle. I really like it,” he mentioned.
Reading has become a popular pastime among the Red Wings players, with Raymond diving into series like Harry Potter last season.
This year, he’s tackling “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” by fellow Swede Stieg Larsson, opting to read it in English to broaden his vocabulary. “You have to expand your vocabulary a bit,” Raymond explained, showing his commitment to growth both on and off the ice.