The new season is just hours away for the Detroit Red Wings and they will look to continue taking steps in their rebuild under the careful tutelage of general manager Steve Yzerman.
Tonight is Detroit's home opener against the Tampa Bay Lightning, kicking off the 95th season in team history. Let's take a look at a few bold predictions for the upcoming campaign:
1. Lucas Raymond will challenge for Rookie of the Year
Of course, none of us were particularly happy when the Detroit Red Wings dropped to 4th in the NHL Draft Lottery in 2020 despite owning the League's worst regular season by far by the time of the COVID-19 shutdown. However, it may have been a blessing in disguise. Swedish forward Lucas Raymond, whom they selected with the 4th pick, has done enough to earn a roster spot this season and will begin the campaign by skating on the team's top line with Dylan Larkin and Tyler Bertuzzi.
He's shown he has the tools to be an effective NHL player, so much so that a handful of outlets have projected him to challenge for the Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie.
2. Moritz Seider will enjoy a breakout season
Another key piece of the team rebuild, 2019 6th overall draft pick Moritz Seider has also earned a spot on the roster. So far through exhibition play and practice, he's been paired on the team's second defensive unit alongside veteran Nick Leddy, who is passing along valuable wisdom and experience to his young counterpart.
He's already got the SHL Elite Prospect's Award under his belt, and now he's ready to make a name for himself in the NHL.
3. Tyler Bertuzzi will lead team in scoring despite COVID-19 vaccination controversy
By now, you've surely heard that forward Tyler Bertuzzi is one of only four players in the National Hockey League who have refused the COVID-19 vaccination, meaning that he'll be unable to participate in games north of the Canadian border.
However, this setback won't stop him from putting up consistent production. He demonstrated that he's earned a spot as one of Detroit's key offensive leaders, leading the team in scoring last season prior to the injury that forced him to miss the remainder of the campaign.
