Notes from Dec 30 practice - Raymond likely scratched against the Oilers

[sureLoss]

Backlund was cleared for contact and is no longer wearing the baby blue non-contact jersey in practice:

Aaron Vickers @AAVickers
Backlund said yesterday he hoped to be cleared for contact today. He's sporting green today alongside McGrattan and Raymond.

Aaron Vickers @AAVickers
Bob Hartley on when Mikael Backlund could return: “I don’t think he’s far but how close he is, we don’t have a timeline.” #Flames

Raymond in a green jersey and on a line with Backlund and McGrattan likely means he will be scratched in favour of Jooris for tomorrow's game against Edmonton

Randy Sportak @SUNRandySportak
Also in green: Brian McGrattan and Mason Raymond. Scratch city seems likely for Raymond and Jooris to return

Aaron Vickers @AAVickers
Mason Raymond on his play since returning from injury: "I’m not really playing (to) where I want to be. It’s as simple as that.” #Flames

Aaron Vickers @AAVickers
Raymond (cont): “I’ve been through this many times and have found ways out and I will find a way out in this situation as well.” #Flames

Gaudreau-Granlund-Hudler;
Glencross-Monahan-Jones;
Bollig-Stajan-Bouma;
Byron-Jooris-Colborne

Pat Steinberg @Fan960Steinberg
Hiller starts tomorrow for the #Flames, no surprise.

more updates as they come

[shermanator]

Jooris has outperformed Raymond consistently since he has been up, albeit with most of Jooris' time with the club being while Raymond was out.

Raymond has been invisible since he returned from injury. Hopefully a benching gives him the kick in the ass he needs.

[PugnaciousIntern]

This accountability is so refreshing. It seems like the worst player on the ice eventually is getting benched /sent down reliably. Unfortunately I was a huge fan of Raymond at the start of the season and hope he returns to that form.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

I would say that Raymond has now been given ample time to find his legs since coming back from injury. I also though last night was his best game since coming back, but if Jooris is ready to go, he's been better than Raymond, can play centre, so sitting Raymond is a no brainer to me. The only other body you'd consider sitting would be Bollig IMO, but he was actually great last night too, and our 4th line provide much needed energy and physicality, something Raymond can't provide.

[FBI]

Yup it's been pretty refreshing seeing coach and management actually agreeing with cp on who the weak links have been.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by FBI

Yup it's been pretty refreshing seeing coach and management actually agreeing with cp on who the weak links have been.

Yes, thank goodness management and CP are aligned

[Heavy Jack]

Good to see.

I don't get Raymond, he does a great play like forcing a turnover, takes it up ice with confidence and then as soon as he hits the offensive zone he always seems to try and do the Johnny pull up and throw the puck into no-where's land for the other team to take it and run while he is back there trying to catch up and skating from a stand-still. He needs to start carrying the puck into the offensive zone with more confidence rather than doing that stupid pull-up play, I'm starting to think that hit he took that put him out for 15 games is part of the reason, he just doesn't seem to be rushing the puck like he was in the first 10 games.

[sureLoss]

Jooris is centering colborne and byron

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by shermanator

Jooris has outperformed Raymond consistently since he has been up, albeit with most of Jooris' time with the club being while Raymond was out.

Raymond has been invisible since he returned from injury. Hopefully a benching gives him the kick in the ass he needs.

If only. He was a glaring negative during the losing stretch, and likely caused a couple of those losses directly with terrible turnovers that resulted in goals. He was pretty lucky to get away without a minus last night against the Kings as well with one really bad turnover at the offensive blue line. He definitely needs to sit and think about what he's trying to do out there

[Rerun]

Raymond>Bollig

[united]

Not surprising - did Raymond even get ice in the final 10 minutes last night? I didn't notice him out there. I did notice him jump the boards after a whistle with ~5 minutes left, only to be called back to bench by Hartley who sent Bouma out instead. Raymond didn't look pleased when that happened, naturally.

[ForeverFlameFan]

I like Byron and Jooris together. Colborne with those two makes me pretty excited for the 3rd line.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by united

Not surprising - did Raymond even get ice in the final 10 minutes last night? I didn't notice him out there. I did notice him jump the boards after a whistle with ~5 minutes left, only to be called back to bench by Hartley who sent Bouma out instead. Raymond didn't look pleased when that happened, naturally.

He had a 13 second shift at the 13 minute mark of the 3rd and then didn't play again. Looks like every other forward had at least a few shifts after that. Diaz and Engelland also didn't play the last half of the third.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Rerun

Raymond>Bollig

Don't think I agree with this. Not right now.

Last few games have been Bollig's best as a Flame

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Don't think I agree with this. Not right now.

Last few games have been Bollig's best as a Flame

Well it is true in a purely simplistic form (even though I agree with you thoughts on Bollig's last few games). Problem is it's an invalid comparison. Bollig would struggle more than Raymond has, if Bollig was put on the same lines, put in the same situations Raymond has been playing in. Collectively, Raymond can do "more" things better than Bollig can.

But, Raymond cannot play Bollig's 4th line role, as well as Bollig can and has, and the Flames have a number of body's that do what Raymond is meant to do and do it better than Raymond has been of late. The Flames have next to none who can do what Bollig has been doing the past few games.

So, overally it's true Raymond > Bollig in the greater sense of who's a better overall hockey player. But, to fill the specific role the Flames use Bollig in right now, Bollig >>> Raymond.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by Rerun

Raymond>Bollig

Better player sure, but Bollig brings more to the team. Bollig is better at his role than Raymond is in his.

[bubbsy]

for a guy with so much speed i thought he may thrive in the way this team plays. However, he's just too soft and unwilling to use his speed to disrupt plays on the forecheck or to challenge a defender with his speed. plays have also just died on his stick far too many times.

hopefully he uses the time as a scratch wisely and comes back hungry.

[playmaker]

Originally Posted by Rerun

Raymond>Bollig

apples != oranges

They both have completely different roles on the team.
Raymond will be rather fighting for the spot with Byron or Baertschi.

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by Rerun

Raymond>Bollig

completely different role/position on the team, and therefore, different expectations of what would be deemed "successful". As such, not comparable (ie. apples vs oranges).

Bollig, at least in the past while has been great in filling his role which can't be said of raymond at any point since his return from injury.

Raymond appears to be shying away from traffic and doesn't look all that fast. does anybody recall what his injury was? Maybe he's not 100% still.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

for a guy with so much speed i thought he may thrive in the way this team plays. However, he's just too soft and unwilling to use his speed to disrupt plays on the forecheck or to challenge a defender with his speed. plays have also just died on his stick far too many times.

hopefully he uses the time as a scratch wisely and comes back hungry.

Needs to get back to playing his game. You could see it last night, too many Hudler, JG button hooks, quick stops inside the blue line when carrying the puck in.

He's a fast north / south player, not visionary east west playmaker type like Hudler and JG. Needs to remember what makes him successful and that's using his speed to get to the net with or without the puck. Hopefully sitting in the box will remind him, and he'll stop trying to imitate the things some of our currently more successful players are doing.