from John Niyo of the Detroit News,

There is some skill waiting in the Wings. Not enough yet, obviously, and it’s fair to wonder whether any of these timelines will overlap in a way that produces a legitimate playoff team at some point.

But at least there’s something worth watching now. And maybe even cheering, as a few thousand fans did Thursday night at Little Caesars Arena in the Red Wings’ preseason home opener.

Lucas Raymond, Detroit’s top pick in last year’s draft, made his much-anticipated NHL debut in the 6-2 exhibition win over Buffalo. He scored an unassisted goal on his first shift of the second period, added an assist late in the game and finished the night plus-3 in what was essentially the first act of his final audition for the bosses.

For the 19-year-old Swedish winger, it was solid start to his first pro season in North America, regardless of what head coach Jeff Blashill and general manager Steve Yzerman ultimately decide to do with their 23-man roster ahead of the regular-season opener Oct. 14 against Tampa Bay. (Odds are, he'll spend most of it Grand Rapids, so don't get your hopes up.)

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