DETROIT, MI 9WTVB) – The Detroit Red Wings took Swedish forward Lucas Raymond with the fourth overall pick in the first round of the NHL draft.
Raymond had four goals and six assists in 33 games with his club in the Swedish Hockey League this season. He also had four points in seven games as Sweden won the bronze medal in the IIHF World Junior Championship.
The New York Rangers selected forward Alexis Lafreniere with the first overall pick. Detroit has nine additional picks in rounds two through seven as the draft concludes today.
The Red Wings have waived forward Justin Abdelkader and will buyout the remainder of his contract. Abdelkader was drafted by Detroit in the second round in 2005. The Muskegon native had 252 points in 739 regular season games in 13 years with the Wings.
Detroit will pay just over $6.3 million to buyout the remaining three years of Abdelkader’s seven-year contract.
