from Ansar Khan of Mlive,

“He doesn’t seem like a 19-year-old to me. He’s mature beyond his years,” Larkin said. “I feel like when I was 19, I made a lot of mistakes. I was skating a thousand miles an hour and had a lot to learn. Lucas, it seems like he plays on the right side of the puck, he doesn’t cheat much, which is of big value here. He plays the right way, and he gets rewarded for it.”...

“Obviously, we know the caliber of player, what he did to get drafted so high (No. 4 overall in 2020) and what he did after the draft,” Larkin said. “It’s early, but what he’s done is impressive.”

Larkin praised Raymond’s attitude and demeanor.

“Even from Day 1, whether he was (going to play) in Grand Rapids or he was playing on our team, it didn’t really matter to him,” Larkin said. “He wanted to play in North America. He wanted to play pro hockey. I think he really believed in himself and believed whether it was this year or next year, 10 games, two months, whatever it was, he was going to have an impact on this team.

“He had a quiet confidence about himself. It was never cocky. He really believed that, and I think he continues to believe that. He’s very humble with the success he’s had. Like every player in pro sports, you have your ups and downs, that’s how you really get through that. You keep a level head through the high times because the low times are there as well.”

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