EDIT:WHOOPS Fan 960 Speculates Flames and Mason Raymond Have Agreed to a Deal

[CSharp]

Seems like Feaster is building 3rd, 4th, and 5th (if there is one) lines. Where's the #1 center they're supposed to get. You can't be serious about anyone playing the first line with what the Flames have right now. This is like fully loading a boat on one side and expecting the boat to not tip over. If the Flames were loading up on centers, that would actually make huge sense.

[Ashasx]

We already have 5 lines of forwards. We need to ditch many.

I'm not that against signing Raymond, but we need to drop wingers quickly.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

We already have 5 lines of forwards. We need to ditch many.

I'm not that against signing Raymond, but we need to drop wingers quickly.

Exactly what I'm hoping for.

Sign some more forwards via UFA, and then deal some of our current forwards to other teams for assets.

[Ashasx]

I don't even think we need another forward unless it's a cheap centreman.

I'd rather get a defenceman like Ference or Blum.

[Phanuthier]

Late, but kind of seems a little pointless to me. Kind of reminds me of a poor man's Donovan from a few years ago, but a bit more brittle. Wonder what the motivation here is? I just hope the contract isn't too high. Is Feaster just loading up on Calgary guys cause his top guys he brought in before (Cammalleri, Tanguay) want out?

[cowtown75]

Again, this guy reminds me of a Blake Comeau and they are very much alike in a lot of ways. I just don't see the point of signing Raymond.

Comeau:

age: 27 6'0 195 lbs

361 games, 148 pts, 0.41 ppg

Raymond.

age: 27 6'0 185 lbs

374 games, 178 pts, 0.48 ppg

Both speedy wingers (LW) and both seem like the same player. Both have one 20 goal season- Comeau (24, 46 pts) and Raymond (25, 53 pts)- both taken in the second round- Comeau (2/47 2004) and Raymond (2/51 2005).

Now if the Flames had no use for Comeau, why on earth would they go after a Comeau clone in Raymond ? This would make zero sense to me. At least Comeau will only get paid 1 million next year and Raymond will at least make 2 if not 3 times that much. Is Raymond really worth that much more than Comeau ? Both are speedy, although I think Comeau is more physical, and both have the ability to score 20+ goals if in the right situation. Signing Raymond would baffle me when they just let a player like this go last year and now you are gonna pay 2-3 times more to bring the same thing in ?

[Meers]

Mason's speedy and goes on hot streaks. But then there are those cold streaks and the lack of physical play.

Could he become a 20 goal scorer again?

I suppose it's possible.

But a broken back is one helluva thing to fully recover from.

[Savvy27]

The numbers may be similar but Raymond is a far more intelligent player than Comeau. That being said, Enoch Root makes a great point a few posts up where it is difficult to see the improvement that Raymond represents over the players we currently have.

Without a trade in the offing, the signing doesn't make sense to me.

I am sort of hoping that we sign Ribiero, Raymond, and trade for Stewart. The Flames might win every home game.

[cowtown75]

Originally Posted by Savvy27

The numbers may be similar but Raymond is a far more intelligent player than Comeau. That being said, Enoch Root makes a great point a few posts up where it is difficult to see the improvement that Raymond represents over the players we currently have.

Without a trade in the offing, the signing doesn't make sense to me.

I am sort of hoping that we sign Ribiero, Raymond, and trade for Stewart. The Flames might win every home game.

Why would you say he is a more intelligent player than Comeau ?

[Savvy27]

Originally Posted by cowtown75

Why would you say he is a more intelligent player than Comeau ?

Partly because I think Comeau is among the players with the least hockey sense in the league. His loops around the net in the offensive zone leading to a slapshot into the far corner led me to turn the channel at several points this season.

More importantly though, I knew Mason a little bit and have followed his career. I would say that hockey sense is one of his strengths. People describe him as a perimeter player (and he certainly seems to go through spurts where he is one), but I think he is a player who is able to read the play, picks spots and uses speed to create chances and make defensive plays.

Honestly, I don't think hockey sense is much of a competition between the two. They are very different players and the statistical similarity is a coincidence, imo.

[dying4acup]

Actually think of Raymond as more of a comparable to Lombardi.

[cowtown75]

Originally Posted by Savvy27

Partly because I think Comeau is among the players with the least hockey sense in the league. His loops around the net in the offensive zone leading to a slapshot into the far corner led me to turn the channel at several points this season.

More importantly though, I knew Mason a little bit and have followed his career. I would say that hockey sense is one of his strengths. People describe him as a perimeter player (and he certainly seems to go through spurts where he is one), but I think he is a player who is able to read the play, picks spots and uses speed to create chances and make defensive plays.

Honestly, I don't think hockey sense is much of a competition between the two. They are very different players and the statistical similarity is a coincidence, imo.

Fair enough. Whether Raymond is smarter or not doesn't really concern me as as I cannot speak for Comeau and don't know him personally like how you know Raymond, but smart or not, it's what you do on the ice. Most Van fans say don't let the door hit you on the way out right now, much like a lot of us were doing with Comeau. Maybe Raymond is smarter, Comeau is more physical, either or- but what they have contributed on the ice is very similar IMO and don't see a massive difference between the two.

[cowtown75]

Originally Posted by dying4acup

Actually think of Raymond as more of a comparable to Lombardi.

Except Lombardi wasn't a perimeter player and didn't disappear on you on occasion. Raymond is not a physical guy at all. Lombardi was 100% all the time with his efforts.

[dying4acup]

Originally Posted by cowtown75

Except Lombardi wasn't a perimeter player and didn't disappear on you on occasion. Raymond is not a physical guy at all. Lombardi was 100% all the time with his efforts.

I think u r mis-remembering

[cowtown75]

Originally Posted by dying4acup

I think u r mis-remembering

Then we will agree to disagree. I heard Raymond is a bum, dissapears all the time and is streaky at best. That's good enough for me.

[FAN]

Originally Posted by cowtown75

Most Van fans say don't let the door hit you on the way out right now, much like a lot of us were doing with Comeau. Maybe Raymond is smarter, Comeau is more physical, either or- but what they have contributed on the ice is very similar IMO and don't see a massive difference between the two.

Raymond had 10 goals and 22 points last year and has pretty much been a 15-20 goal 40+ point guy since his breakout year in 09-10. Comeau had 6 goals and 12 points last season and had 5 goals and 15 points last season. Massive difference between a 40 point guy and 20-25 point guy.

Raymond put up those numbers despite not playing with a playmaking center or playmaker on his line. Ya the guy is a perimeter player and is highly predictable offensively, but he is fast, skilled, and has a good shot. He can still figure things out, if not he's a guy that doesn't hurt the team even if he's playing on the 3rd and 4th lines.

[cowtown75]

Not to argue, but it's not like Comeau has been playing with awesome centers be it here in Calgary - mostly 3rd, 4th line duties with limited PP time. Their overall stats have been the same and Raymond has played on a better team. My overall point is... what's the point in signing him when we got some young guys who I would rather see get a shot is all. I think we got enough pluggers with limited upside and wish we would stop grabbing wingers and focus more on defence and someone who could slide in on the #1 center position with experience like a Ribiero, Roy, Grabbo, etc.

It's not that I hate Raymond, in fact I would love to see him score a few on Van, I just don't see the importance of getting him or how he is an upgrade of the current status quo currently in place is all.

[FAN]

Originally Posted by cowtown75

Not to argue, but it's not like Comeau has been playing with awesome centers be it here in Calgary - mostly 3rd, 4th line duties with limited PP time. Their overall stats have been the same and Raymond has played on a better team.

Again their stats have not been the same. Raymond almost doubled Comeau's production this season and if you average out the numbers would have put up his usual 20 goals 40+ points over 82 games. Comeau would had around 20-25 points, the same averages he put up last season. Raymond is not the same player that saw him score 25 goals and 53 points. He's now a 15-20 goal 40+ point guy. Comeau is not the same player that saw him score 24 goals and 46 points. He's now a 10-13 goal 20 point guy. At their best, Raymond was a better player. Right now Raymond is a better player. There's no comparison.

Originally Posted by cowtown75

My overall point is... what's the point in signing him when we got some young guys who I would rather see get a shot is all. I think we got enough pluggers with limited upside and wish we would stop grabbing wingers and focus more on defence and someone who could slide in on the #1 center position with experience like a Ribiero, Roy, Grabbo, etc.

It's not that I hate Raymond, in fact I would love to see him score a few on Van, I just don't see the importance of getting him or how he is an upgrade of the current status quo currently in place is all.

Raymond isn't a plugger with limited upside. He is a skilled player with a lot of offensive upside. Raymond is a top 9 player in the NHL. If the kids you're thinking of pan out, Raymond will be on the 3rd line. If not Raymond will be on the 2nd line and glad he's on the team.

[RM14]

Raymond can finish goals way better than lombo.

[Textcritic]

Walker and Boomer are again doing their utmost to deflect any suggestion that they reported Raymond signing with the Flames. Their position now is that SOME OTHER MEDIA OUTLETS WERE REPORTING THIS, BUT THAT THEY AT THE FAN 960 WERE NOT AMONG THEM.

It seems to me that these two doth protest too much.