Wayyyyy too much for Raymond.

Then he sucks. If Mercer and Boldy are his best comparables then that’s what he shoudl get

Depends on this season

lol wot? Mercer hasnt been paid yet (and will obviously not get that based on their cap structure) and Boldy scored 30+ goals last year.

Raymond hasn't proven he's worth $7M a year - he will likely get a bridge deal.

There's a hell of a long way between being a 7 million dollar player at 22 and sucking...

Plus Yzerman doesn't give out big contracts his first go anyway. He gave Kucherov a 3 year 4.76mil bridge deal after 2 straight 60+ point seasons. Raymond ain't getting 7mil without being a PPG+ guy this year.

Even Mo I would question getting that much. I wouldn't be upset, but you gotta take into account more than just "This guy makes this much so he must be worth the same"

not at all

Yes, yes it is.

What has Raymond done to this point to warrant $7M a year?

If he explodes for 30 goals and 70 points this year, maybe.

He will and if he doesn't take a bridge deal id imagine the deal looks something close to 7x7. Boldys deal was mentioned above as a comp and i like that. stats are pretty comparable and boldy is surrounded by a lot more talent. Raymond will only get better as this team improves. So no, its not too much $$

Boldy scored 30 goals...Raymond scored 17. They're not even close to comparable.

Raymond will be getting a bridge deal in all likelihood.

Your stats are cool but the game isn't played on a spreadsheet. the cap is going up as well..7x7, given a good year this year, wouldn't be a bad deal

Raymond has showed signs of being a top line winger. He has the tools and just need some help aside from just larkin. Im curious to see the impact of the FA signings. i think Raymond is poised for a huge year.

If you don’t offer him 7 x 7, then that means you don’t think he’s a bonafide top 6F in 2-3 years when the cap is at 90 mill.

That's an enormous oversimplification of the process

If I were signing him today I'd try to do a 3x5.56.5 bridge.

I also think if he isn't signed by Christmas bis actual contract will end up much higher than that. I feel a 3rd year breakout coming (as so often happens for young players

Raymond doesn't suck but he did have a sophomore slump, offensively speaking, compared to his rookie season. His contract will be based on his performance in his 3rd season. But at this stage I wouldn't lock him in for 7 years at 7m per. My prediction for Raymond is a bridge deal at 3 years and somewhere between 5m to 6m per year. Boldy scored 30 goals in his sophomore season which warranted a 7 year 7m contract. Raymond had 17 goals down from his 23 as a rookie. But he was also deployed a lot more in the D zone last year under Lalonde than he was in his rookie season under Blashill and did commit more to a two way game. So that's also a factor in the dip in production. But his +/- improved drastically as a result. from -32 to -17 which is a big improvement (by Detroit standards) especially considering he produced less offence. After the season ended he did put on quite a show at the World Championships and was Sweden's best offensive threat every game at 21 year old. We saw a major boost in his confidence during that tournament which we're hoping continues into the upcoming NHL season. If he manages to score 30 goals and 60 points and shows he's going to be that true top line winger, which he is totally capable of, then maybe he will get his 7 years 7m deal. But anything less and he'll get his bridge deal until the result arrive. He'll very much be a top line winger in the NHL, but the question is does that happen in his 3rd season or his 4th season? or even his 5th season? Similar to the road Nathan Mackinnon took. Mackinnon had a banger of a rookie year, then 3 consecutive down years on a bad Colorado team. He finally arrived in his 5th NHL season and has been force ever since.

For Raymond I'm not ready for Yzerman to open up the check book just yet. We need that 3rd season to determine where he should come in at. As for our other big upcoming RFA, Mo Seider. I've seen enough. Back up the brinks truck and lock that guy in for 8 years at 9.5m per.

You are out of touch

You're simply not understanding how the process works. Tools and potential dont get you $7M a year, simple as that.

If he has another season like last year he is not worth anything close to 7x7.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Maatta moved but it will happen next summer if it does. It will all depend on the play of Edvinsson, Wallinder and Johansson. All three of these guys will get looks this season, Edvinsson 100% will see time in Detroit. Wallinder and Johansson depending on their play in Grand Rapids. Johansson was scheduled to come up to Detroit for a 9 game stint last year but got injured right before his call up which was very unfortunate. I expect his call up this year. Wallinder has only played 1 game in North America thus far so if he gets called up it won't be until the end of the season after the TDL. Edvinsson will have 1 more year max in the AHL and then he's a Red Wing in 2024/2025. If one of Wallinder or Johansson show they're NHL ready. Maatta will be moved to make way.

This team is 2024-2025 so it’s assuming Wallinder makes it by the time he’s like 23 years old which is realistic