If Lucas Raymond misses time can the Detroit Red Wings survive? | Previewing the Florida Panthers

If Lucas Raymond misses time can the Detroit Red Wings survive? | Previewing the Florida Panthers

Today on Locked on Red Wings, can Detroit survive if Lucas Raymond misses any time? And what could the lines shake out to look like? You’re Locked on Red Wings, your daily podcast on the Detroit Red Wings, part of the Locked On Network, your team every day. Welcome back to the Locked On Red Wings podcast. We are your hosts, Brian Fischer and Scotty Bentley, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day and you can find us wherever you find your podcasts. Uh Scotty, today we have to talk about we’ll talk a little bit more about the Lucas Raymond injury and if he misses time and we say if because they did not practice on Tuesday, so there is no update and we’re recording this at 5:30 on Tuesday. So between now and probably around noon will we will likely get an update on Lucas Raymond’s condition. But if he misses any time, what will that mean for the Detroit Red Wings and how will that shake up the forward line? So we’re going to talk about that in the first two segments before getting to a Florida Panthers game preview in segment three. Before we can get to any of that, got to let you guys know today’s episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Download the FanDuel app now by visiting fanuel.com and win $300 in bonus bets if your first $5 bet wins. All right, Scotty. I mean, the question is an obvious one. I think it’s one that’s in the front the forefront of everybody’s minds. We did talk about it a little bit on the game recap just because it was kind of a major thing that happened in that hockey game. If Lucas Raymond is out for any significant amount of time, how does that impact the Red Wings outlook on the season? Well, it bleak. Um, obviously we talked about it a little bit yesterday. I I I’m I’m just begging for any remote update, dude. like e even if it’s just like hey it’s you know not going to be the rest of the season like anything to grab on to and and be like okay like there’s a little bit of you know solace in this I yeah obviously if he misses time it’s catastrophic to this team if it’s a game or two then you should be able to keep your head above water if it’s anything more than you know a month then you’re talking about uh a situation where even if he comes back you’ll will presumably be kind of playing from behind to get back to where you want to be. So yeah, I I mean the really the only conversation surrounding it is not like will it hurt. Obviously everyone knows it will. The conversation is if it’s a short amount of time then there’s really no conversation. It’s just like okay great we’ll get them back in a game or two. If it is a prolonged period of time, it’s how do you, you know, put a piece of bubble gum over a burst pipe? Like, how do how do you band-aid that and kind of patchwork it together so that you can keep it together uh until he comes back? Yeah, that’s exactly it. I like the bubblegum over a burst pipe analogy. Did you make that up off the top of your head? I’ve used it before. I don’t know if I heard it somewhere, but I I’ve I have definitely used it before. Um, I’m trying to think of like where I mean I’m sure it just comes from like cartoons or something when we were growing up, but I I don’t know. I’ve definitely used it before though. Yeah, I think it’s a very apt metaphor, apt analogy to use in this situation with the the impact of losing Lucas Raymond. A lot of your chances to make the playoffs hinge on Raymond and Cider Larkin 2 remaining healthy for the bulk majority of the season. And of course, injuries happen and things can change. But I mean, that’s guy who scored 80 points last year. He was your first 80 point score since I think 2010, 2011. Henrik Zedterberg was the last one to do it. And now you’re losing that in the lineup. There is no replacing Lucas Raymond in the lineup. You can put somebody on that line, but there’s no guarantee they’re going to produce and have the I would say actually it’s highly unlikely that they produce or have an impact at Lucas Raymond’s level. So, if you lose him for an extended period of time, that really, really, really hurts this chances team, this team’s chances rather, of making the playoffs come April. And I don’t think it’s insane to say that. What you have to begin to rely on then is somebody or some people’s really is what it’s going to be. It’s multiple people stepping up in his absence. And we’ve seen before, right, when Larkin would get hurt. What’s the team’s record without Larkin? Significantly under 500. He’s a center. Top wing’s a little different, but we’re at the same at the end of the day, you’re still talking about one of your highest producers or actually your highest producer of offense on the team. How you can’t replace that. You just need multiple guys to try and step up and you need to survive. And that’s how you you get through it is you get your depth players who you hope to get more goals out of start scoring more goals. And luckily after Raymond left, that’s what we got left. After Raymond got hurt, that’s what we got with James Van Remdsteike and Mason Appleton. they stepped up and they scored goals to get you over the hump. You need good goalending. You need good team play because at the end of the day, it’s going to be a team effort to replace Lucas Raymond if he misses any amount of time. Then the second conversation is okay, if Lucas Raymond does miss time, and again, there is no update on Tuesday because they did not skate. But if you’re working on the assumption he doesn’t play against the Panthers, what do your forwards lines look like? Because I don’t think Mason Appleton is playing on the top line against the Panthers. I think the reason he was put up there is because it was the easiest player to move without disrupting the rest of the forward lines. So Scotty, I mean, when it comes to options for your top line or top right wing in that instance, you know, what’s the first thing that you can think of as terms of I wouldn’t say filling in Raymond’s shoes, but just putting somebody there in the meantime. So to be honest, the idea that has circulated in my head since we talked about it initially yesterday that you brought up and I think is an intriguing option is you move C and Kane up to the top line and put them around Larkin. And now I I also think that there’s an argument for you want some scoring outside of the top line and that’s something that Red Wings teams present and past have dealt with a lot. So I understand that sentiment and if it’s just as simple as you want to keep that line together because you want a little bit of scoring depth in the lineup card then so be it. And I have no issue with that. But I and then that kind of just regurgitates the the or recycles rather the conversation just okay what does your second line look like now? But I I do think that there is some legs to it and I I I I think the idea you had there when you brought it up yesterday was an interesting one because it it solidifies your top line which in theory would get the most minutes. It then just puts a question mark now on line two. It definitely gives you the highest skill ceiling for your top line. I I do think it hurts in the defense department because you have two options then if you put Kane and Larkin on the same line because I mean skill-wise and offensive production wise I mean that’d be an electric top line. There’s no denying that. But Alex Debrink and Patrick Kane don’t get defensive zone deployments. Dylan Larkin does. So either you’re going to give Kane and Debrinket defensive zone deployments, which I can only imagine ends poorly, or you give you shelter Larkin along with Kane and Brinket as they you are a little bit now on the second line and you basically give them you’re basically giving them the deployment that they’re getting now just with Larkin at center. And so you keep that line essentially together and the offensive zone, offensive pressure high. But then what does that mean for your other lines, right? Like what does your second line look like if you move both those guys up? Do you run a kids line of Casper, Finny, and MBN? That would be that would be kind of sick. And that line the second line’s I go back and forth because like those three players play a two-way game and so on one hand I’m like you might not have to shelter them nearly as much as you did with Cat and Kane on his wing, but at the same time they’re also kids. Like all three of them are basically children compared to us. So there’s that’s a huge risk to take. So while the two-way game and in theory they would could play well, it also could just blow up because they’re also young and inexperienced. Casper, you know, just had his rookie season last year. Your third line I think you could you would mostly keep together. Obviously MBN would move up to the second line, but Cop, Comper, and Appleton in this case is in my theory theoretical line here. Or you can’t move Raspus up if Cop and Comp are center. So you’d keep Cop, comfort, and Appleton. That’d be your matchup line. I would think in this instance, you’d give them even more difficult deploy deployments in the defensive zone to free up Casper and Larkin’s lines. And then your fourth line would be Ras, Soderblam, and Barren. Or because if Raymond does miss an extended period of time, you call up Carter Maer to add a little bit of uh extra defense to that bottom six. I feel like that happens regardless if Raymond Raymond misses time. Like no matter what he I I have a hard time believing anybody but Carter Maser is the first call up if any forward really especially wing misses a prolonged period of time. So really I I think that’s even you know regardless of what happens in the top six uh with or without Raymond that that’s that’s kind of happening right. Uh Scotty I have another theoretical set of forward lines we could run. I’ll give that to you in segment two. I want to hear your thoughts. So stay tuned to segment two of Lockdown Red Wings. 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Scotty, you know, we’re talking about potential forward lines, right, for if Raymond if Raymond misses time. I really like the Casper, Kane, and Catline. I think they found a really good groove. I also like the way they’re being used and deployed right now. And I don’t want to take Dylan Larkin out of the defensive zone. I think Dylan Larkin is is your chief kind of matchup guy. I’d like to keep him in the defensive zone for faceoffs when possible for those matchups. So, I think the other possible one here to play on the right wing would be the inverse almost of the Casper NBN Finny line. So, maybe you still run into the same problem with the inexperience. Uh but Larkin, Finny, and NBN, you know, long-term NBN, you want him to play a middle six or top six role with this team full-time. So the question then becomes, can Larkin, NBN, and Finny be a serviceable top line in Raymond’s absence? I think that gives the best opportunity to the player on your Ford core that has the most upside. But I think you run into the same issue as you would with Casper, Finny, and NBN when it comes to just the sheer inexperience of that line outside of in this case Dylan Larkin. For sure. And I I think if there is one single player, you know, if you’re not doing an an entire like line shift essentially and moving line two to just be line one, etc., that if there is just one player to plug in that spot, it it I think it probably is MBN, man. Like I he again like as you already mentioned, he allows the team to continue deploying that top line in the defensive zone. Uh you still have a decent shot over there, right? Like Larkin is obviously the playmaker and the offense is certainly on that line going to go through him. Um, but you know, if MBN is is open in the slot or or up top or whatnot, like he obviously has a strong enough shot to make that happen. So, like I I I think that that is maybe not the only, but I I certainly think it’s a clubhouse leader to again, if you’re just looking for one skater to kind of fill that void. Yeah. I mean, who are your other options on that right wing, right? That’s not Kane and not MBN. You have Appleton who’s done it. I don’t think that MBN or I’m sorry, I don’t think Appleton is the best option. Baragan, Sodor Blum who got looks in the preseason, didn’t really look like he fit. Barren we’ve seen so much from already. Like we know at this point Barren is what he is. And if you’re asking Larkin and Finny to play a defensive role, like Barren’s not going to fit on that line. He’s not good defensively. So, I just I feel like if it comes down to this and let’s say Danielson’s not healthy or I don’t think Maser is topline, I love Carter Maser, don’t get me wrong. I’m Carter Mer Stan, but I just know I think I know what he is at this point. I think he’s going to be a bottom six forward in the NHL and a great one at that, but I just don’t see him being topline caliber. Like, if you don’t have a call up that’s ready and your top other top prospect that’s NHL ready is still hurt in Nate Danielson, like what are your other options here besides putting a vet there that you know is going to underperform? Yeah, I I really think the only player you said there that I I would consider outside of obviously again MBN or or any of the guys on the second line is is probably Elmer and and you know we again we saw it in the preseason. We talked about it a lot in camp and in the preseason. Um I I don’t think it’s a perfect scenario, but I losing Raymond is very far from a perfect scenario. There’s not going to be anything that that really fills that void completely obviously. So I mean you could in theory I think try JT Comper. I think he’s played right wing at times in his career. I mean you could just throw Cop up there. Yeah. I don’t know if Cop’s played right wing though. Let me see. Cuz he’s I think listed as a center and a left wing. So unless Finny can blate both sides which he’s not listed as playing a right wing. A lot to put on a rookie either way. Right. I mean, he’s already up there. No, I mean, I guess. Yeah. So, I don’t know. I don’t know. It’s going to be interesting because if they can’t figure it out, it if Raymond’s not healthy, it’s going to again be a report on Wednesday that he’s like totally fine and this episode is just us sounding the alarm on nothing. I hope by like noon on Wednesday, this entire episode is expired. Like, no good anymore. Like that is the best case scenario is that this episode is not worth listening to by noon because Raymond was just banged up and he’s healthy to go. Uh we will find out very shortly. Uh by the time people are listening to this at least in matter of a few hours for us recording it’s going to be like another day. But Scotty, why don’t we unless you have anything else to add to this, we can just head to segment three and preview the game against the Florida Panthers. All right, stay tuned. Segment three, lock down Red Wings. The NFL season is here and FanDuel has an offer you don’t want to miss. Right now, new customers can bet just $5 and get 300 in bonus bets if you win. That’s right. Pick a bet, put down five bucks, and if it hits, you’ll unlock $300 in bonus bets to use across the app. You’re going to you you’re going to love FanDuel because it’s going to give you so many ways to play. You can build parlays, try player props, or even follow the live games live. It makes watching football even more exciting when you’ve got a little something riding on the action. Whether you’re a casual fan or love diving into the stats, FanDuel makes the game day experience so much better. So, what are you waiting for? Visit fanuel.com to download the FanDuel app today and get started. All right, Scotty. Segment 3 Lockdown Red Wings podcast. The Detroit Red Wings are hosting the Florida Panthers at home for the first time this season. The Florida Panthers are 31 and 0. The Detroit Red Wings are 21 and 0. What can the Red Wings expect, Scotty, from the Florida Panthers? Well, I think it’s an opportunity to be honest. You know, this is obviously the the big bad Panthers and they’ve won back-to-back Stanley Cups and they’re a really good hockey team. They’re also banged up early in the season here and are missing some of those key players. Now, they still have a ton of talent at the top top to bottom in the lineup. This is not to say that this is like a a shell of the team entirely, you know, necessarily. Um they’re the heavy favorites in this game. Goodness. But yeah, you have a a few guys obviously. um Kachchuck uh Barov like you have opportunities to again that’s why I’m calling it an opportunity I guess like I think you may not face the Panthers with less reinforcements than they have right or as few reinforcements as they have right now. You know what I mean? Like as thin as they are right now. Um but yeah, this is an incredible special teams uh that’s gotten off to a fantastic start. This is incredible defense. We know how they play hockey. It’s It’s physical. It’s What are you squinting at? Oh, I was stifling a yawn. Oh. Oh, smart. That’s That was actually good. It looked like you were just really focused. So, good job. Um, but yeah, I we know how they play hockey. Like, this is a team that’s going to be physical and and try to get the advantage, you know, before and after the whistle in that regard. And especially after Yeah, especially after. and uh you got to keep your head on straight and and win a hockey game. So, we’ll see what happens. But I again, not sure you’re going to face the Panthers any thinner than they are right now when they’re still really good even with the injuries I mentioned, right? I mean, I was going to come on here and say the same thing. It’s like they they’re missing Kachchuck until at least Christmas. They’ve lost Bararkov for the season. Like, your best chance to steal some victories from the Florida Panthers is going to be now. And then Lucas Raymond got hurt. And again, we don’t know what’s going to happen, but the your chances of stealing one against the Panthers cuz they’re banged up gets significantly smaller when you’re also banged up with your one of your if not your best player. So, that’s something to keep in mind. Right now, they’re their team leader. Barov and I’m sorry, not Bararkov. Brad Marshand in four games has four points because of course he does. Ageless Wonder Lundell’s got four points in four games. Uh Mackis Samovich has three points and four goes down from there. There’s only four games, so guys have points. It’s kind of it’s close right now. Uh Barov Barkov, I keep saying Bararkov. Babski, he’s on my mind. Babski’s got like a 925 save percentage. He’s got all three wins. The one loss they have is from their backup Terasov. So if you’re seeing Babski, you know it’s going to be a tough game. And they are a top 10 team in Corsy percentage, which again is just shot attempt share at five on five. at five on five. They’re the seventh best team at shot attempt share. The Red Wings through three games are the eighth best team at producing shot attempts. So they’re just a tick above the Red Wings. Okay, you go to special teams, Scott. You go. Okay. Can the Red Wings beat them in special teams? Oh, they haven’t been scored on on the penalty kill yet. 100% so far. They literally I was looking at that, too. I was like, I don’t even want to like I’m afraid to even say that out loud because I it’s it’s I mean it’s what two or three games, but I was like that can’t be right. Yeah. So, they’re tied for first place in penalty kill. One of four teams has a 100% penalty kill so far. And then their power play is fourth in the league at 35%. The Red Wings are sitting at eighth in the league at 25%. So, you do everything pretty well through three games. They do everything just a little bit better. Even with Kachchuck and Barov, this time I meant to say Bararkov out of their lineup. So, it’s going to be a home game. They are road favorites as you mentioned Scotty on FanDuel Sportsbook. They’re minus 146 on the road. You are plus 122. So, it’s going to be, as expected, a pretty tough hockey game against the defending back-to-back cup champions, Florida Panthers. So, if I’m going to ask you, you know, what is your key to beating the Florida Panthers here? What possibly could you give that’s going to be, you know, the difference maker? I guess I’ll go with special teams just to have something, but I I I really do think that ultimately this is a conversation that so frequently when I mean you just look over the past matchups with the Panthers is just like keeping your head on straight and not getting the crap beat out of you like that. I mean that, you know what I mean? Like that that is what it comes down to a lot of the times when playing this team and and the style that they play. But I I think special teams is obviously a huge uh X factor, we’ll call it, in this game. You know, the penalty kill for the Wings has obviously been uh I guess so far better this year, but small sample size. It was so bad last year. This is a Panthers power play that is really good, has been really good, is very talented, and a penalty kill that, as you mentioned, is literally perfect on the year. Um, so if the Wings can continue their power play success, maybe finally get a goal or two on the power play and then not have their PK get completely kicked in, you might be talking about an opportunity. Again, you’re not going to face you’re not going to face this team with more men like down for the count. So you I I feel like you kind of got to and you’re at home. Yeah. Like you got to take advantage, right? And just for the record, the Red Wings penalty kill is 85 and a half%. That’s 12th best in the league. Again, everything right now is sample size, right? Four games for the Panthers, three for the Red Wings. So everything can change so fast after every single game, right? But I will add to Scotty, I’ll echo your sentiment about keeping your head on straight. This is a team that loves to rage bait after the whistle. Don’t let them rage bait you. You got to keep your head on straight as you you put it. I’ll also add I this is going to be such a huge matchup game. If Todd McClullen with home ice advantage can match up properly against the Florida Panthers, like that’ll give you a little bit of an edge and you’re going to need every edge you can get against the Florida Panthers. So I I mean I think that’s about it, right, Scotty? Do we have anything else to add about Raymond or the Panthers? No, man. Uh, I I I would love to see this be I feel like whenever we’ve played the Panthers in the regular season over the last couple of years, it’s just been, you know, an absolute bloodbath and and not in like a close game way either. Like they just absolutely maul the Red Wings. So, I would love for this to be a competitive hockey game. I would love for this to not be like over by, you know, the end of the first period. So, we’ll see. I I think I’m really interested in what the goalending situation looks like. I’d imagine it’s Gibson, but again, like they’re they’re they’re they’re three games in and we’re two and0 with uh with Talbot. So, it’ll be interesting to see how that is handled. But, uh yeah, I I mean, that’s that’s pretty much all I got, man. Hopefully, it’s a it’s a good game we’re reviewing tomorrow night. Yeah. And just a public disclaimer for those who are still listening, this game is not going to be a FanDuel game. This is an TNT HBO Max game. So, it is uh whenever the Wings play the Panthers, it’s always on national TV. I I I don’t know what it is about these two teams. I get the Panthers, but I Well, I guess I get it. Panthers are backtoback cup defending champions six team, right? You have a really good team and then you have one of the biggest markets in the sport. Yeah. Right. It’s just always these every time. Literally every time. Really? Like, let’s There was that two years ago was every time it was on ESPN and that’s when I think we got the famous Mason Raymond calls. Yes, the Mason Raymond. They they lost one of those like eight to three or whatever, too. Yeah, it was not good. Rough. Uh, so anyways, we’ll be back tomorrow with a game recap. Scotty, we thought we do ball. Be back tomorrow. Same time, same place. It’s your team every day.

There are no updates on Lucas Raymond as of right now, but if he misses time that could be catastrophic for the team. What would forward lines look like? Also, previewing the Florida Panthers. #LGRW

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