Lucas Raymond – Detroit Red Wings Winger
Age: 19
Goals: 16
Points: 43
Games: 54
Draft: 1st Round (4th Overall) in 2020
As the current leader in the rookie points race, it may be surprising to see Lucas Raymond ranked as low as number three on this list. This is a close race though and my guess is that Raymond doesn’t lead rookie scoring by the time the season is over, but it should be very close.
It’s definitely too early to tell, but right now, Lucas Raymond is looking like the best player taken out of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. He’s already outscoring 1st overall pick, Alexis Lafreniere, who has player twice as many games.
The only player selected from the 2020 NHL Draft with more career points (so far) is the 3rd overall pick, Tim Stützle, who has 13 more points in 50 more games. Again, I know… it’s way too early to tell who won and lost the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.
Anton Lundell (Florida Panthers) is another forward from the same draft year was very close to making this list. Tanner Jeannot (Nashville Predators) and Matt Boldy (Minnesota Wild) are forwards close to making this list as well.
Lucus Raymond was named NHL Rookie of the Month for November 2021, and Anton Lundell was NHL Rookie of the Month for January 2022.
If you’re picking Lucas Raymond to win the Calder trophy, it’s not a foolish bet at all. He has a good chance, but my prediction is that he joins Michael Bunting as the wingers on the NHL All-Rookie Team and is named a Calder finalist but falls short on winning the trophy.