Praise For Red Wings Star From Unexpected Sources

A Colorado Avalanche icon singing the praises of a Detroit Red Wings star?

Go figure.

While you’re at it, figure this one out, too. A Toronto Maple Leafs player complimenting the work of a Detroit counterpart.

Somewhere, George Constanza is crowing about it being opposite day.

In Sweden, they are crowing about the impressive work of Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond.

Lucas Raymond on the breakaway! 🙌#MensWorlds #IIHF @Trekronorse pic.twitter.com/TfLJccAulM

— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) May 22, 2025

The Swedes were leading Czechia 1-0 late in the first period of their quarter-final game on Thursday at the IIHF World Championship. Then, in the span of two minutes and 40 seconds, Raymond would score twice to launch Sweden onward to a 5-2 victory.

Capitalizing on a bad Czech line change, Raymond broke into the clear, beating Czech goalie Karel Vejmelka on the blocker side. On his second goal, Raymond faked a shot, then fired it past Vejmelka to almost the same spot past his blocker.

“I don’t know what happened,” Czech defenseman Filip Hronek of the Vancouver Canucks told IIHF.com. “After the first period, it was 3-0. It’s hard to come back from that against a team like this.”

Hronek and Raymond, of course, were previously Red Wings teammates.

Kudos For Red Wings Raymond

Expected to be a difference-maker for Sweden after leading Detroit this season with 80 points, Raymond is delivering on that promise. He’s second on the team in scoring during the tournament with four goals and 10 points in eight games. Raymond’s +9 rating is also tied for second in the tourney.

“He was awesome,” Maple Leafs forward and Swedish teammate William Nylander told Sweden’s Aftonbladet. “He scores great goals.” In his first game with Sweden after arriving at the world tourney, Nylander was skating on a line with Raymond and William Karlsson of the Vegas Golden Knights.

Praise was also coming Raymond’s way from of all sources, Avalanche legend and notorious Red Wings slayer Peter Forsberg.

Lucas Raymond is the Player of the Game for Sweden. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/oB2UzHB1jN

— Red Wings Prospects (@LGRWProspects) May 22, 2025

“A really good shot, then,” Forsberg told his broadcast partner, former Swedish League player Erik Granqvist while serving as an analyst on the game for Viaplay.

Red Wings defensemen Simon Edvinsson and Erik Gustafsson are also part of the Swedish squad. Sweden will meet the USA in Saturday’s semifinals.

Kasper Bids Adieu

It wasn’t such a fortunate day for Red Wings center Marco Kasper and Austria. The Austrians were whipped 6-0 by Switzerland in their quarter-final game.

It was the first time in 31 years that Austria had reached the playoffs of the world championship.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t play our best game,” Kasper told Czech website isport blesk. “But we can be proud of how we performed in this championship. It was fun.”