Red Wings draft Swedish playmaker Lucas Raymond fourth overall

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With the fourth overall pick in Tuesday night's NHL Draft, the Red Wings selected Swedish forward Lucas Raymond.

The 5'10 winger, who's spent the past three seasons with Frolunda of the Swedish Hockey League, has drawn comparisons to the likes of Artemi Panarin and Mitch Marner.

"There's never been any doubt in terms of his skill level," analyst Bob McKenzie said on NBC Sports after Detroit made its pick. "He's a little physically immature, but he's gotten much stronger over the course of the summer and I think he really benefitted from the fact he's been able to play some hockey this fall, because he's looked much stronger and much more dominant."

Raymond scored four goals and 10 points in 33 games last season, but he didn't see much of the ice as a 17-year-old on a professional team. He's expected to put up much bigger numbers this season as he plays higher in the lineup.

Against players closer to his own age at the 2020 World Juniors, Raymond scored two goals and four points in seven games for Team Sweden. He put up four goals and eight points in seven games at the U-18 World Championship in 2019.

The Wings' highest pick since they took Keith Primeau third overall in 1990, Raymond will join a crop of young talent for in Detroit headlined by 2019 sixth overall pick Moritz Seider and 2018 sixth overall pick Filip Zadina.

Detroit is slated to make nine more picks on Wednesday, including three in the second round and two in the third round.

Featured Image Photo Credit: Mike Stobe / Stringer