{"id":454213,"date":"2026-02-11T10:07:44","date_gmt":"2026-02-11T10:07:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/454213\/"},"modified":"2026-02-11T10:07:44","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T10:07:44","slug":"red-wings-raymond-excited-for-olympic-opportunity-dhn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/454213\/","title":{"rendered":"Red Wings Raymond Excited for Olympic Opportunity \/ DHN"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lucas Raymond<\/a> has dreamed about the Olympic Games for years, and on Wednesday, the Olympic dream will officially become reality for the Detroit<\/a> Red Wings forward.<\/p>\n

Raymond and Sweden are facing host nation Italy in the men\u2019s Olympic hockey tournament opener for both nations. The puck drops at 3:30 p.m. ET.<\/p>\n

And Raymond can\u2019t wait.<\/p>\n

Lucas Raymond spotted in Italy for the Olympics as Sweden\u2019s Hockey Team Arrived This Morning \ud83d\udd25 pic.twitter.com\/2WsOqaIBVq<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Woodward Sports Network (@woodwardsports) February 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI mean, I think obviously there\u2019s big hockey things that you could play in,\u201d Raymond<\/a> said. \u201cI think with the Olympics, that\u2019s something that\u2019s one of the biggest, if not the biggest, to compete and be a part of as an athlete worldwide.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo it\u2019s a huge honor.\u201d<\/p>\n

That it only happens every four years, and that it didn\u2019t happen for NHL players for the previous eight years, is only serving to heighten Raymond\u2019s excitement level.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think not only for us players, but fans as well,\u201d Raymond<\/a> said. \u201cJust 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. You want to be part of that, and you want to put yourself in spots like that.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith all the best players coming, I think it\u2019s going to attract a lot of people and a lot of eyes. So, you want to represent hockey in the best way possible as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Red Wings Raymond Is Excited<\/p>\n

As much as he\u2019s pumped up to play, Raymond<\/a> is also aware of how pressure-packed an Olympic tournament will be for everyone involved.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a short tournament, right?\u201d Raymond said. \u201cIt\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

lucas raymond name pronunciation just dropped pic.twitter.com\/KRAhiGfP1i<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 steph (@LNW1NGS) February 10, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re coming together quickly as a team. It\u2019s gonna be tough to really nail all the systems to a T. It\u2019s gonna come down to a lot of mentality and maybe getting a couple bounces and good goaltending.\u201d<\/p>\n

The journey starts today for Raymond in Milano Cortina.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m looking forward to it,\u201d Raymond said. \u201cVery excited. And, yeah, I can\u2019t wait.\u201d<\/p>\n

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