added 9:47am, Brad Galli of WXYZ with Yzerman on Lucas Raymoind, watch below.

from John Niyo of the Detroit News,

The Red Wings could’ve gone in just about any direction Tuesday night in the first round of this year’s NHL draft.

But it probably shouldn’t be a surprise that they turned back to their successful past when the clock was ticking and the future was waiting.

They went back to Europe, where so many pieces of the last generation of Stanley Cup champions in Detroit were found. And more specifically, back to Sweden, where the Red Wings are almost as familiar and comfortable as the meatballs and cinnamon buns.

Hakan Andersson, the Wings’ longtime European scouting director, has had a hand in drafting more than 50 Swedes over the last three decades, including the likes of Henrik Zetterberg, Niklas Kronwall, Tomas Holmstrom and Johan Franzen. But none were as highly touted a prospect as the one who answered the phone just past 1:30 a.m. local time in Gothenburg, Sweden, where 18-year-old Lucas Raymond was surrounded by his family and friends, wondering if he might be the next.

“It’s a dream come true, and especially a club like Detroit,” said Raymond, the highly skilled left wing who immediately becomes the top prospect in the Red Wings’ system. “A lot of good Swedes — legendary Swedes — have played there. So it was extremely exciting, and I’m so happy and honored to be a part of the Detroit Red Wings.”

continued (paid)

from Ted Kulfan of the Detroit News,