Lucas Raymond is lacing up his skates for Sweden once again, and that's big news for hockey fans everywhere.
The Detroit Red Wings left winger has officially committed to representing his country at the World Championships for the fourth straight year. It's a decision that speaks volumes about his passion for the blue and yellow jersey—a passion he's never been shy about sharing.
Just a few months ago, Raymond was on the ice at the 2026 Olympics in Italy, where Sweden's run ended in heartbreak. A 2-1 overtime loss to the USA in the quarterfinals sent them packing. But instead of dwelling on the disappointment, Raymond took to Instagram with a message that summed up his mindset: "Not the result we wanted but an awesome experience and always an honor representing Sweden."
Now, he's backing those words with action. The 24-year-old will join fellow NHL star Mattias Ekholm of the Edmonton Oilers on Team Sweden. Ekholm, a veteran of six World Championship tournaments, brings plenty of experience to the blue line.
The tournament runs from May 15 to 31 in Zurich and Fribourg, Switzerland. For Raymond, this wasn't an easy call. Coming off a grueling NHL season and just three months removed from Olympic play, he was banged up and had every reason to take the summer off. Even he admitted uncertainty about playing this time around. But after heading home to Sweden and getting some much-needed rest, he decided he wasn't done yet.
That's huge for the Swedes. Raymond was the team's leading scorer at the Olympics with nine points (two goals, seven assists) and has been a consistent force on the international stage. In 28 career World Championship games, he's racked up 26 points (11 goals, 15 assists) and helped Sweden bring home bronze medals in both 2024 and 2025.
Speaking of his NHL game, Raymond just wrapped up a 76-point season with the Red Wings. But Detroit head coach Todd McLellan is pushing him to take things to the next level—specifically, to become a more dominant goal scorer. Raymond netted 25 goals this season, and the coaching staff believes he has room to grow by shooting more often.
"If you just take his shooting percentage and throw in an extra hundred shots, which I think he's capable of..." McLellan said, hinting at the untapped potential in Raymond's game.
For now, though, all eyes are on Switzerland. Raymond is ready to wear that Tre Kronor jersey once more—and if history is any guide, he'll make it count.