Many of the biggest NHL stars have opted out of World Cup games after a grueling season with a compressed schedule in North America.
In Tre Kronor - who face Denmark on Sunday - only Raymond and Oliver Ekman-Larsson are doubling up.
The Detroit star poured in points at the Olympics and finished third in the scoring race with nine points, one goal and eight assists.
Only the Canadian duo Connor McDavid and Macklin Celebrini, the latter also in the World Cup, were better.
But for Raymond and Tre Kronor it came to an end in the quarterfinals.
"Huge disappointment"
Then came the next setback when his Detroit team, after a poor end to the season, missed the Stanley Cup playoffs again.
But after he got over it, he accepted the World Cup call-up.
"First of all, it was a sad ending and a huge disappointment that we ended the way we did. It takes a while to digest and go through everything. Then there was almost a month where you have time to get control of your body and the injuries you have," he says.
The national team is always appealing to Lucas Raymond, who has played in all tournaments and the Four Nations during Sam Hallam's time as national captain.
"Every time you get a chance to represent the national team it's an honor, and I don't think it's something you should take for granted. It's a lot of fun," says Raymond.
Same as "Sudden"
This time it's a "new" Lucas Raymond. Or at least his jersey number.
Since his usual number 23 was already taken by team captain Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Raymond was given the number 13 jersey.
"13 felt closest. Pavel Datsiuk (the former Russian Detroit star) was one of my favorite players growing up, and also 'Sudden' (Mats Sundin). Oliver will be 23; he is the captain and has played so many games both in the NHL and the national team," says Raymond, adding with a laugh:
But it feels unusual.
Well, it was possible to score in the number 13 shirt too. He scored in the 3–5 loss to Canada in the opening match. In that match, Tre Kronor, after a weak start, showed that the mix of young and old seems to hold up.
The front line with Raymond and the junior duo Ivar Stenberg and Viggo Björck showed joy in the game and created a lot of chances.
What stands out about them?
"Their courage, the confidence they showed in a World Cup debut against Canada - they play their game and I think that says a lot. They compete all the time."
