Lucas Raymond, representing Sweden as the other Red Wing in the tournament, skated on a line with center Joel Eriksson Ek (Minnesota) and Jesper Bratt (New Jersey) in practice Monday. The Swedes open Wednesday against Canada (8 p.m., truTV, TNT).

Often when he was playing on hockey’s world stage for USA Hockey, Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin was suiting up alongside Johnny Gaudreau. “I think the last three USA World championships I played in,

Larkin (Team USA) and Raymond (Sweden) are the only two Wings competing in the inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off beginning Wednesday in Montreal.

Some may view the break in the NHL season for the 4 Nations Face-Off as nothing more than a money grab, but don’t count Detroit Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond among that group. The Swedish star will be wearing his country’s colors in the mist of the NHL’s first best on best tournament in nearly a decade. To him, that’s kind of a big deal.