[News] Flames put Byron and Raymond on waivers. UPD: Byron claimed by Habs

[Badgers Nose]

I think his injury layed a part in Byron's bad shots on breakaways.

[hummdeedoo]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Someone on this board once said that if you have Paul Byron in your lineup, it points to weak depth, and whoever that poster is he's right.

Not surprised hardly anyone agrees with that opinion.

[FireGilbert]

Awesome news about Raymond, I was worried he would get a few regular season games before being sent down. I'm looking forward to the buyout next year.

I am a little sad about Byron though, he is definitely a favourite and well suited as a 12/13th forward. One part of my hopes he gets claimed and is an NHL regular this season but my more selfish side hopes he clears and can help the Flames when injuries inevitable occur.

[Calgary4LIfe]

With regards to Byron, it is a smart gamble on the part of the Flames to waive him now to give themselves flexibility down the road. I am sure that the Flames would rather keep Byron in the organization - he is cheap and is a solid utility forward praised by both the coach and the GM. He gets bashed for his poor finishing on breakaways, but replace him on the PK or other similar situations, and whomever else probably wouldn't be able to even get those breakaways to begin with. I said he was the perfect 13th forward you want sitting around and filling-in as a stop-gap on any line as he is extremely versatile.

As for Raymond - I feel really bad for him. Posters sometimes seem to dehumanize players to a point. Raymond is not a guy that is not trying out there. I am sure he cares. Heck, he is essentially playing for him hometown in front of his friends and family - and his family is a very well known and respected one at that. I hated the signing to start with as I thought this may happen, and it is. Must not be very easy for Raymond at the moment. He simply lost his job to better options out there. Up to him to find a way back.

On a different note, a team looking to increase their speed are good homes for either player. I doubt Raymond gets picked up with another year left, but Byron sure is a candidate. I would bet both clear, however.

[Hells Bells]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

As for Raymond - I feel really bad for him. Posters sometimes seem to dehumanize players to a point. Raymond is not a guy that is not trying out there. I am sure he cares. Heck, he is essentially playing for him hometown in front of his friends and family - and his family is a very well known and respected one at that. I hated the signing to start with as I thought this may happen, and it is. Must not be very easy for Raymond at the moment. He simply lost his job to better options out there. Up to him to find a way back.

Does he care though? There's more evidence to say otherwise.

Him saying he didn't do anything differently this off-season to prepare was the last straw for me. I don't feel bad for him at all. He knew he had players passing him on the depth chart and he did absolutely nothing to help himself change that.

Adios Raymond, maybe another team will give you a shot based on what you did 2 years ago. I'm glad it's not the Flames.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by hummdeedoo

Not surprised hardly anyone agrees with that opinion.

Not surprised that people like Hartley and Treliving seem to agree with it.

[Poe969]

Having Byron on the roster does mean you don't have a lot of depth for a few reasons. It's not like he's a rookie anymore and just learning the game, I know that he' isn't old and can still improve his game but he has a lot to improve to even become a regular in the bottom 6. He was fast but lots of guys are fast in today's game and you need to be more than just fast to make it. If you're going to have spots on the roster for players who are still learning the game and improving, you want those spots to go to younger players pushing for spots like what we had with Monahan and Johnny and what we have now with Bennett. Ideally I think you'd want a solid top 6 a good 4th line and a third line that has a couple of younger guys who are learning the game and can move up in the lineup. Byron is a good player but he just isn't good enough. I hope he improves his game and comes back and earns a spot but I have never really seen what he brings to the game. I'd rather have a guy like Granlund take that spot and maybe develop into a second line player because Byron doesn't really look like he's ever going to be more than a third or fourth line energy guy.

[hummdeedoo]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

Not surprised that people like Hartley and Treliving seem to agree with it.

Maybe the Flames have better depth now than last year but to characterize it as poor depth with Byron on the team is inaccurate.

Hartley and Treliving have said many times he is an NHL player.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by Hells Bells

Does he care though? There's more evidence to say otherwise.

Him saying he didn't do anything differently this off-season to prepare was the last straw for me. I don't feel bad for him at all. He knew he had players passing him on the depth chart and he did absolutely nothing to help himself change that.

Adios Raymond, maybe another team will give you a shot based on what you did 2 years ago. I'm glad it's not the Flames.

I think it was a bit of an overblown comment. Where did he rank in the fitness testing last year and this year? Perhaps he does have some wicked off-season training? I think everyone jumped at that comment without any other information. Maybe he is simply not good enough as a player, but his off-season workouts and fitness levels were very good?

If I saw him getting gassed out there, or slow, or in any other way poor in terms of fitness, I would 100% agree with you that that was a disappointing comment. I just saw a player who definitely got passed last season on the depth chart, and who this season just faced too much competition and no longer fit-in. I didn't see a lack of commitment or effort. Just a lack of ability.

[CsInMyBlood]

Glad Raymond was waived. Hope some team jumps at him. Knew this was a mistake as soon as he was signed by Treliving. He just does not fit here. Please be gone.

Byron on waivers is unfortunate. Hope he clears and gets back up. The guy is hard to play against and brings a lot of great little things. His injuries last year really hampered him. I still don't think we know what his ceiling might be. Hope the dirty Canucks don't pick him up.

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

I think it was a bit of an overblown comment. Where did he rank in the fitness testing last year and this year? Perhaps he does have some wicked off-season training? I think everyone jumped at that comment without any other information. Maybe he is simply not good enough as a player, but his off-season workouts and fitness levels were very good?

If I saw him getting gassed out there, or slow, or in any other way poor in terms of fitness, I would 100% agree with you that that was a disappointing comment. I just saw a player who definitely got passed last season on the depth chart, and who this season just faced too much competition and no longer fit-in. I didn't see a lack of commitment or effort. Just a lack of ability.

Not at all.. Mason Raymond has been in this league for quite some time now. He's capable of 20+ goals if he's trying to earn a contract.

When I see Raymond play, I see a perimeter player who has no interest in getting or receiving the puck. He has no interest in paying a price to get into the high scoring areas. Raymond has always been a fast skater, but he has absolutely no strength and it's not because he's undersized. It's because he's never been dedicated to bulking up or getting stronger. Just being fast enough not to get body checked.

Raymond makes 3.25 mil a year from the team he looked up to as a kid. He's represented the Flaming C terribly and is the embodiment of a floater just looking to get his paycheck.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by FireGilbert

Awesome news about Raymond, I was worried he would get a few regular season games before being sent down.

He hasn't been sent down.

I actually don't think either of them will be sent down. The Flames didn't have to cut anyone so the way I figure it they're putting them on waivers now (when they're potentially less likely to be claimed) rather then when the injured are set to return. Assuming they clear it give the Flames 30 days/10 games of exempt status.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by hummdeedoo

Not surprised hardly anyone agrees with that opinion.

I think that's more because of nostalgia and the whole underdog story then actual reality.

Frankly I like Byron, but he's the guy that you have to push out of your lineup if you're going to succeed.

He's the type of player that you can get excited about if your teams not very good because you have the plucky underdog story, and he's a blood and guts player.

But there are better options out there for your team as it gets deeper.

[PepsiFree]

I disagree with anyone who is sad about Byron but happy about Raymond. Neither are especially good or useful. Raymond gets a bigger pay check, but you can't blame the player for that.

It's always a bit sad when a player that really wants to play for the Flames (Raymond & Grats recently) just can't cut it. I'm always sympathetic.

Hopefully both guys get into an organisation where they have a role. Not bad players by any means, but Ferland and Frolik are significantly better options for the Flames without sacrificing speed.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by CsInMyBlood

Glad Raymond was waived. Hope some team jumps at him. Knew this was a mistake as soon as he was signed by Treliving. He just does not fit here. Please be gone.

Byron on waivers is unfortunate. Hope he clears and gets back up. The guy is hard to play against and brings a lot of great little things. His injuries last year really hampered him. I still don't think we know what his ceiling might be. Hope the dirty Canucks don't pick him up.

No. You need to remember what state the Flames were in when he signed, and what the market was at the time.

The Flames were extremely fortunate that so many of their prospects blossomed when they did and were able to take key roles on the team. There was no way a smart GM would gamble on his young prospects taking the leaps they did. He needed proven NHLers to step in and hold places until better pieces came along.

It was not a mistake to sign him then. The Flames needed him. Did you forget that Raymond had 45 points with the Leafs? Hudler was only a 50 point man when we signed him too, and by all accounts was a "soft" player.

At this juncture, absolutely the Flames need to move on from Raymond. However, when he was signed, the Flames absolutely needed him. Things in the business of Hockey can change quickly.

[FlamesAddiction]

Byron was always my dark horse for becoming a 15 goals, 30 point player. Unfortunately, it never worked out. I wouldn't mind him in the system still though. He would be a decent call up if injuries strike.

I would be happy for him if a team picked him up though.

Raymond.... bah! It would be nice if someone picked him up, but I doubt it will happen. Put him in for a dozen games and see if he can get on hot streak, then waive him again. If no one picks him up, then just bite the bullet and keep him in the AHL. I never liked that signing.

[skudr248]

please someone pick up raymond, please

[Bandwagon In Flames]

To anyone who says the Flames don't need Byron, please read this article when you sober up:

http://www.matchsticksandgasoline.co...moving-forward

It's funny how short some of your memories are. It takes all kinds of players to have success in the NHL. Byron is the 2nd most versatile forward we have and represents the Flames identity to a T.

As Bob Hartley would say, "He's like an Energizer bunny out there".

Some of you will look really silly when Byron remains with the team after clearing waivers.

[neo45]

I think it is fair to say Raymond was a poor signing. Even at the time it was a high cap number with term for a known inconsistent player. He has played great for the odd 5 game stretch here, but usually it's against teams like Edmonton. He just doesn't use his greatest attribute, which is his speed, effectively.

Byron is a better player than Raymond because he can slot in anywhere and make an impact

[CsInMyBlood]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

No. You need to remember what state the Flames were in when he signed, and what the market was at the time.

The Flames were extremely fortunate that so many of their prospects blossomed when they did and were able to take key roles on the team. There was no way a smart GM would gamble on his young prospects taking the leaps they did. He needed proven NHLers to step in and hold places until better pieces came along.

It was not a mistake to sign him then. The Flames needed him. Did you forget that Raymond had 45 points with the Leafs? Hudler was only a 50 point man when we signed him too, and by all accounts was a "soft" player.

At this juncture, absolutely the Flames need to move on from Raymond. However, when he was signed, the Flames absolutely needed him. Things in the business of Hockey can change quickly.

That's fine if you believe that. 45 points with the Leafs? Why didn't they re-sign him? Because they were able to recognize what kind of player he was, and passed on him.

The Flames didn't need Raymond then or now. Some of us felt it was a bad signing as soon as it was announced. He is as one dimensional as they come. This is addition by subtraction. 3 years at 9,450,000 was a joke then and looks like an even bigger joke now.

At least Treliving realizes it was a mistake, now we can move forward.