Red Wings Lalonde Talks Seider, Raymond

Over the summer, Detroit Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde has frequently engaged Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond in conversation.

“I’ve talked to them about three times in the summer,” Lalonde said. They talk about plenty of stuff to do with the future of the team. What never comes up in those conversations, though, is the topic concern of every Red Wings fan regarding the immediate future of both players.

“We don’t even talk about the contract,” Lalonde said.

That, he reasons, is none of his business.

“This is exactly why we have the GM layer and those guys have the agent layer,” Lalonde explained. “That’s between (Detroit GM) Steve (Yzerman) and them, Steve and the agent.

“It’s been business for us and for them.”

For Lalonde, when he talks to Seider and Raymond, it’s business as usual.

August is the worst month of the NHL offseason. So i’m re-sharing Moritz Seider being a warrior for your viewing pleasure. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/1YJsFARZZa

— Brian Fisher (@BrianFisherLORW) August 7, 2024

“With us it’s just the same thing, the same message for all our guys,” Lalonde said. “We want to progress, we want to keep moving, keep building this. We want a little bit more than last year.

“Obviously those guys are a big part of it.”

Red Wings Lalonde Confident Deals Will Get Done

There’s no questioning how vital both Seider and Raymond are to the success of the Red Wings. Raymond was a 31-goal scorer last season. His 72 points were leading the team in scoring.

Lucas Raymond CRUMBS, I swear this is the first sighting of him in months pic.twitter.com/mwuTDq3wap

— riley (@moreitscider) August 2, 2024

Seider led the Red Wings in time on ice (22:22) and shorthanded time on ice (2:33) per game. He’s logging those minutes in hard situations against the opposition’s best players.

“He’s going to be seeing that the rest of his career,” Lalonde said.

The big German defenseman also wound in a tie for eighth among NHL defensemen with 211 hits. He was second among NHL rearguards with 212 blocked shots.

While it might seem like the Red Wings are running out of time to get restricted free agents Seider and Raymond under contract, Lalonde is entirely confident that they will find common ground a get a deal done prior to the opening of training camp next month.

“I’m not worried,” Lalonde said. “It’s all part of it. I’ve had a little experience with this with past RFAs.

“I think it’s all part of the process.”