[Signing] Flames sign Mason Raymond (3yrs, $3.15mil AAV, modified NTC)

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Me too. I think the top three lines could be interchangeable depending on who's hot.

Definitely. So far, this is what I would want in regards to lines:

Glencross - Backlund - Hudler
-Lets see how Glencross does with 1st line LW minutes w/o Cammy.

Raymond - Stajan - Jones
-One winger that can crash the net, one winger that has wheels, and a playmaker that also has a decent shot but doesn't use it enough (Stajan). I think this can be a successful 2nd/3rd line if they make the right plays.

Gaudreau/Baertschi/Byron - Monahan - Colborne
-A skilled LW, RW power forward, and a center that makes the right plays. Shelter their minutes until they prove themselves worthy of top 6 minutes

Bollig - Bouma - McGrattan
-Easiest line to make, they all have a role and deserve spots. I like this line as our 4th line too, big, hard checking forwards all with offensive upside.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

Bollig - Bouma - McGrattan
-Easiest line to make, they all have a role and deserve spots. I like this line as our 4th line too, big, hard checking forwards all with offensive upside.

McGrattan is coming off a career year with 4 goals and 8 points...

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

McGrattan is coming off a career year with 4 goals and 8 points...

Better than years before. He was actually given some ice time for once. Maybe not offensive upside, but at least decent enough to fill the 4th line RW role.

[Vulcan]

Bollig should be a huge upgrade over anything else we've had on the 4th line. Except for maybe McGrattan, we'll be able to roll 4 lines and still be tough enough.

[RoughRiderRowdy]

Bollig is going to surprise quite a few flames fans, he has some considerable offensive upside.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

McGrattan is coming off a career year with 4 goals and 8 points...

He just needs to take more of these.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Pretty good chance those 3 players combine for less than 15 goals.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Originally Posted by Fire of the Phoenix

Pretty good chance those 3 players combine for less than 15 goals.

You may be right, but I think I would go over, with each of Bouma and Bollig capable of 8-10 a piece.

[MyFlamesFirst]

Originally Posted by Fighting Banana Slug

You may be right, but I think I would go over, with each of Bouma and Bollig capable of 8-10 a piece.

Especially with a coach like Hartley. We saw it this year, he plays the players who he thinks deserves the ice time. Doesn't matter if your first line or fourth line.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Fire of the Phoenix

Pretty good chance those 3 players combine for less than 15 goals.

Maybe...but also a good chance they combine to hammer the snot out of many an opponent....i will take that trade off in creating confidence for the young guys everyday of the week.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by puckedoff

I hate seeing him penciled in to our top line in the 'predict the lineups' threads.... ugh.

Hopefully he will prove me wrong

Can you honestly say you like anybody on this roster penciled in to the top line? Not one player on this roster should be considered top line.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Don't get me wrong I love that line, it's going to be a triad of truculence. However, they're probably going to have a higher tally in the broken teeth column than the goal column. Which is awesome.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

Can you honestly say you like anybody on this roster penciled in to the top line? Not one player on this roster should be considered top line.

Well unless they earn it right?

In fairness though, you're selling Hudler a bit short. That's about all I got on the roster.

But back to Raymond. Definitely a second line winger. The broken back thing side tracked his progression but I felt he rebounded well in Toronto last season. He has all the tools to put together a great season and I think the Flames bought in on him at the right time.

Call it a stop gap or whatever everyone wants to say. I feel he's a great fit for this team right now and for the duration of his contract.

[heep223]

Before he turns his attention to hitting the century mark, Raymond, who signed a three-year free agent deal with the Calgary Flames this summer, will look back on the off-season with fond memories, highlighted by a special visit to Invermere, British Columbia.

It was there where the 28-year-old Albertan teamed up with the NHLPA’s Goals & Dreams fund to deliver sets of brand new hockey equipment to local minor hockey players, in a meet and greet at the Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena.

It was a special moment for Raymond, who spends his summers in Invermere, a popular tourist destination near the border of Alberta.

“I was their age once and I always remember that feeling of freedom to do what you love,” said Raymond. “It’s an honour for me to be part of it. As a player, it’s fantastic to have something like Goals & Dreams. To see the looks on the kids’ faces, it’s priceless.”

While he didn’t get the opportunity to talk hockey on the night of July 22 in Invermere, Raymond relished the chance to speak about the upcoming campaign.

“I’m very thrilled,” admitted the speedy left-winger, who had 19 goals and 45 points with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2013-14. “ I’m going to a young team that is very hungry. The one thing that you always took away from playing against Calgary was the work ethic they displayed.

“I really feel quite lucky to be part of it,” continued Raymond. “I owe a lot to Toronto for believing in my abilities. Sometimes in your career, things happen, and you have to find a way to reinvent yourself. This is a great situation for me. I just want to be one more piece to the puzzle.”

Raymond’s first shot at reaching the 100-goal plateau comes against his former team, the Vancouver Canucks, on October 8 in Calgary.

http://www.nhlpa.com/news/mason-raymond-making-his-mark

[GranteedEV]

After falling all the way down to I think a -7 during his facepalm stretch, Mason Raymond's +/- has gotten back to a 0 thanks to this hot streak.

[btimbit]

Leafs fans weren't kidding, that's a helluva cold and hot streak

[Hackey]

Hopefully Raymond can keep it up and keep his critics quiet for a little longer.

[Chingas]

I am happy that he has hit a hot steak, and I hope that we move him at the trade deadline. I think that the timing is perfect to try and get out of this contract. During his cold streak he had really demonstrated how little he can offer if he isn't scoring. To me he is Stempniak all over again, except a lot softer. I have a feeling that he will be a source of frustration throughout his tenor here.If we could add him as a piece for a dman it would fill a couple of needs for us, helping the D while opening up some room on the wing.

[Erick Estrada]

I simply don't see the team trading Raymond unless it's part of a bigger deal. He's been pretty good of late. I don't think the Flames will be very active at the deadline.

[neo45]

Originally Posted by neo45

He plays a very soft game. I don't think we overpaid that badly, probably 500k or so, but if we get the Raymond that was in Vancouver I won't be happy.

Inconsistent, perimeter player. Hopefully he ups his game here

Hey I was right for once in one of these threads

For all the crap Glencross has taken for being streaky, Raymond sure does take it to the next level. His last few games have been awesome