In Red Wings land

Detroit Red Wings rookie Lucas Raymond becomes youngest to net hat trick since 1985 | Detroit Free Press

Only three Red Wings aged 19 or younger have scored a hat trick: Gordie Howe, Steve Yzerman, and now Lucas Raymond. That’s good, right?

The Red Wings aren’t the only ones to make history that night, either. The Chicago Blackhawks now hold an NHL record for the longest time a team’s started a season without a lead. Where Raymond’s goal is positive, theirs is…well, less than ideal.

Analyzing Every NHL Team’s Worst Contract | Bleacher Report

So for their worst contract, we’ll go with Danny DeKeyser. With one year remaining, it’s hard to rip on this contract too much now. Swap him out for Marc Staal if you want. We would even entertain commentary on Dylan Larkin’s $6.1 million AAV until 2023 making him slightly overpaid.

Calling Larkin’s contract overpaid shows a lack of research on B/R’s part, but the DeKeyser choice is justified. For the first time in years, there isn’t a Frans Nielsen or a Jonathan Ericsson deal to anchor the team. Feels refreshing, to say the least.

Around the league

Inside the NHL: When it comes to Eichel, the money is as big an issue as the surgery | Buffalo News

Jack Eichel carries a huge cap hit. But, honestly, for the type of player he is, he’s worth every penny. If a guy like Eichel can play out of his mind every night with a struggling franchise like Buffalo, imagine what he could do with a strong team around him. Ultimately, he’ll find a new home sooner than later, but how soon depends on how quickly a team’s willing to put together a deal.

All I know is I’m sick of hearing about this saga.