When the Red Wings finalized their opening night roster earlier this week, there was much jubilation among fans as top prospect Lucas Raymond, 19, made the team after an impressive preseason. This fell in line with Yzerman’s sentiment that the team needed to allow their youngsters to start entering the lineup and seeing what they could contribute to the team, but that they also had to earn their opportunity to do so.
The opening for Raymond was in part created by the extended absence of Jakub Vrana who will be out for at least the first four months of the season.