Lucas Raymond is living out a dream that’s been years in the making. On Wednesday, the Detroit Red Wings forward will officially step onto Olympic ice, suiting up for Team Sweden as they take on host nation Italy in the opening game of the men’s hockey tournament.
Puck drops at 3:30 p.m. ET - and for Raymond, it can’t come soon enough.
For NHL players, the Olympics haven’t been part of the calendar since 2014. That’s a long eight-year wait, and for a player like Raymond - who grew up watching the best in the world battle for gold - this moment hits differently.
“I mean, I think obviously there’s big hockey things that you could play in,” Raymond said. “I think with the Olympics, that’s something that’s one of the biggest, if not the biggest, to compete and be a part of as an athlete worldwide.”
That sense of scale isn’t lost on him. The Olympics are more than just another tournament - they’re the pinnacle.
A stage where the best of the best collide with national pride on the line. And now, Raymond gets to be part of that.
“It’s a huge honor,” he added.
It’s not just about the chance to represent Sweden - it’s about doing it when the world is watching. With the full slate of NHL talent in the mix for the first time in nearly a decade, this year’s Olympic tournament promises to be a showcase of elite-level hockey. And Raymond knows that means the intensity, the speed, and the stakes are all going to be cranked up.
“I think not only for us players, but fans as well,” he said. “Just how high a level of hockey it is when all the best come together and play against each other. In the Olympics and on a grander stage, I think that will amplify it.”
Raymond’s not just excited - he’s locked in. He understands what it takes to win in a tournament like this.
There’s no room for slow starts or off nights. The margin for error is razor-thin.
“It’s a short tournament, right?” he said.
“It’s one game, especially in the playoffs. So, the margins are really tight.
I think what it comes down to is about being good on that day.”
That’s the Olympic grind in a nutshell. Teams don’t have weeks to build chemistry or perfect systems. It’s about coming together fast, finding rhythm on the fly, and leaning on talent, grit, and goaltending when it matters most.
“You’re coming together quickly as a team,” Raymond said. “It’s gonna be tough to really nail all the systems to a T. It’s gonna come down to a lot of mentality and maybe getting a couple bounces and good goaltending.”
That’s a veteran’s take from a young player who continues to mature into one of Sweden’s most dynamic forwards. And now, he’s got a shot to make his mark on the biggest stage international hockey has to offer.
The journey begins today in Milano Cortina. Raymond is ready.
“I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “Very excited. And, yeah, I can’t wait.”