What to do with Mason Raymond?

[Lanny_McDonald]

Fire him into the sun is not an option? Bummer.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Komskies

Saying Raymond has good shooting abilities makes me think you haven't really watched the guy. He has an absolute muffin of a shot. 7.5% shooting percent. It looks like he uses some sort of midget stick that's shorter than Johnny's or Shinkaruk's.

Raymond's shot is good. He had a low SH% this season, unlike pretty much every other season of his career. I think he sucks for every reason except his shot. If I could give his shot to Frolik we'd have the perfect 2RW.

[Karl]

I wish the vote results were made available so we can see who voted for what option.

I voted to keep Raymond buried, but after reading a couple people's posts, I wish I could change my vote to buy him out.

[Poe969]

I'd say buy him out. I guess it depends on if they want to buy anyone else out but he seems most likely...unless they keep him to expose him for the expansion draft.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Poe969

I'd say buy him out. I guess it depends on if they want to buy anyone else out but he seems most likely...unless they keep him to expose him for the expansion draft.

He's UFA next summer so he can't be exposed in the expansion draft.

[1qqaaz]

I don't think we should trade Raymond if it means trading away assets. We are still a rebuilding team, and I don't want to spend a draft pick just to get rid of Raymond for a season.

I voted for "Keep him on the farm team", because he's actually been fairly productive down there. It's always nice to have some veteran NHL presence in the AHL. I am sick and tired of our AHL teams missing the playoffs even though we apparently have a deep prospect pool. The Stockton Heat hardly play any games as it is, so I think it's important for them to make the playoffs.

[spuzzum]

Originally Posted by New Era

Fire him into the sun is not an option? Bummer.

I don't believe we have the technology available to simply fire him in some sort of cannon to the sun. Not enough velocity to escape the atmosphere.

We'd have to put him in an ICBM and aim it into space hoping it makes it.

[Poe969]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

He's UFA next summer so he can't be exposed in the expansion draft.

I meant to say Stajan. Is it worth buying Stajan out instead of Raymond or keep Stajan for the expansion draft. Someone should be bought out this summer.

[MarkGio]

Retain 50% and package him with a 4th.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Depends on our cap situation after the offseason. If we have lots of room, bury him for a season. If we're up against the cap, different story. All depends on who we can move out this summer (Wideman, Smid, Etc...).

[JJ1532]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

how about another option:

Let him come to camp and earn a spot


If he comes to camp and out performs the other guys looking for a top 9 role, then he earned it. By all accounts he was very strong in the AHL. Good. See what he does in the offseason and give the guy a chance to earn his spot back.

That is an option, its basically "keep him with the big team". If he's with the big team come the opening day, he'll have to have earned it.

[Flamescuprun2018]

Source: https://www.capfriendly.com/teams/flames

Currently 14 roster players under contract plus 2.2M buried for Raymond at a committed cost toward cap of 48.1M +2.3M performance bonuses in play next year.

Anticipated cap 73-74M for 20-23 roster spots + Raymond buried salary.

Lets add in expected RFA and UFA signings and ballpark salaries:

Gaudreau 7.5M
Monahan 6.5M
Colbourne 2.5M
Jooris 1M or Shinkaruk 900K+performance bonuses
One AHL player or top 3 pick 900K+up to 2M performance
Nakladal 1.5M

Starting goalie 6M
Ortio 1M

That's 22 out of 23 players max allowed. We are right up against the cap this year if all final contract year UFA defensemen remain on the books especially when factoring in performance bonuses for Bennett and any ELC starter from minors or drafting top 3. I would agree that Raymond may need to be bought out and 1 million carried over to next year when we have fewer big D contracts. There is no room for UFA RW signing this year if we are signing a UFA starting goalie unless we magically move Smid or Wideman. Smid on LTIR might give us a bit of LTIR relief but that might only cover the performance bonuses.

Engelland going nowhere since can play up and down defense pairings.

[3rd line Grinder]

Originally Posted by btimbit

Then again didn't SOB only have a year left? Maybe ownership is dead against paying a guy that kind of money in the AHL

IIRC SOB was sent down due to character issues and they used a compliance buy out on him so he could find NHL employment somewhere else (which ended up being florida I think).

This is different from Raymonds scenario because a)SOB was hindering the team with factors other than just his play (being a bad influence on young players) and b) buying out his contract would have no ill effect to the team's situation. With Raymond, the issue is his play, other than taking up a spot he isnt doing the team any harm other than being relatively useless on the ice. With simply burying him in the minors (that being if he doesnt some how make the team in October) he counts towards the cap for this year, and unless the flames some how are that hard pressed against the cap, it isnt really an issue. If it becomes one around the trade deadline, his contract will be easier to deal anyways so can make that part of any deal they make. Where as buying him out will have implications towards the cap the next few years where we will be contending and by all means need that cap room.

Also wasnt SOB bought out while Burke was still GM? If so, this means that BT could have a different philosophy on the matter on the matter all together.

Either way, I think he'll get buried rather than bought out.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

As long as the cap isn't an issue, i think they keep Raymond in the AHL. He can be a veteran 'ringer' for them for a season.

[420since1974]

BT has stated that while he is not a fan of buyouts, the owners have not set any financial restraints against using one.

If I was a betting man, I'd guess that Raymond stays buried in Stockton, with maybe a small chance of moving him at the TDL if his numbers are really good.

[Samonadreau]

Find a giant cannon, point it at the sun and light the fuse.

And then I woke up.... i guess we can leave him in Stockton...

[badradio]

Buy him out... I seem to remember him last year being asked what he was going to do to ready himself for the upcoming season and I recall him replying along the lines of 'not doing much different' which to me speaks volumes. Apparently he didn't do much different and is why he's now on the farm team.

[calgaryblood]

Re-sign him to a one year deal for league minimum and then expose him to the expansion draft and then buy him out.

[3rd line Grinder]

Originally Posted by badradio

Buy him out... I seem to remember him last year being asked what he was going to do to ready himself for the upcoming season and I recall him replying along the lines of 'not doing much different' which to me speaks volumes. Apparently he didn't do much different and is why he's now on the farm team.

to be fair to the guy though, he probably prepared the same way for several years, and after the season he had had the year before, why would he not assume it was just an off year?

[calgaryblood]

Also really wish the poll was public so we could know who Raymond's 6 family members on the site are.