Red Wings sign Lucas Raymond to eight-year, $8.075M AAV contract

DETROIT — The Detroit Red Wings took care of a major piece of business before training camp on Thursday.

The team announced on Monday that they've signed restricted free-agent forward Lucas Raymond to an 8-year contract worth an average annual value of $8,075,000.

Raymond's signing leaves defenseman Moritz Seider as the lone free agent unsigned.

Raymond, 22, led the Wings in scoring with 72 points last year, while playing in all 82 games. He set career highs in goals (31), assists (41) and points in the process.

During the Wings' late-season run toward a possible playoff berth, Raymond played the best hockey of his three-year career, including seven goals and 12 points in eight tense, playoff-like April games.

Raymond dedicated himself off the ice in the summer of 2023, and the results were evident.

"He found something in his offseason last year," coach Derek Lalonde said. "He came back and he just looked like a different athlete. A little of that was just him maturing, he's still a very young player and naturally his body matured. But it's just keep building on what he did last year."

The team also signed Jonatan Berggren to a one-year contract worth $825,000 on Monday.

Berggren, 24, is likely to be on the opening night roster and no longer waiver exempt.

Berggren had 15 goals in 67 games with the Wings two seasons ago, but he only played in 12 contests with Detroit last season with six points (two goals, four assists) and was unable to secure a roster spot.

Berggren has 17 goals and 17 assists in 79 career NHL games. He excelled in Grand Rapids last season with 56 points in 53 games.

How much ice time Berggren receives this season remains unclear as it appears the top-six forwards are basically set.