Mar 8, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Mason Raymond (12) celebrates his goal with right wing Troy Bodie (40) against the Philadelphia Flyers at Air Canada Centre. The Maple Leafs beat the Flyers 4-3 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
The Cochrane, Alberta born and Calgary raised Mason Raymond celebrated Canada Day by putting his signature on a three-year, US$9.5-million pact with his hometown team, the Calgary Flames.
The damper on the Raymond contract signing is the fact he signed it hours after Mike Cammalleri signed with the New Jersey Devils. As unfair as it is, the focus of the Canada Day signing is 26 goals lost and only 19 goals brought back. Mason Raymond’s career NHL high for goals in a season is 25. Can Mason Raymond match his 2009-10 campaign with the Vancouver Canucks to ease the loss of Cammalleri AND ease the pressure on sophomore Sean Monahan?
The not-so-secret to Mason Raymond’s success is his speed:
"“Mason Raymond might be the most pure north-south skater on this list. It’s not that he’s not great at the east-west stuff, he’s just a machine built for a drag race, not NASCAR. Which is to say, if the 10 players on this list were to hop on a frozen river and race for 500 feet or so, there’s a good chance his nose is in the mix at the finish line.That means that every time Raymond blocks a shot or ends up in a flat out footrace, he’s going to be the guy getting first touch on the puck” October 16,2013, The Score"
Due to recent changes in NHL rules, Mason Raymond’s “spin-o-rama” in the shootout is now banned.
Last season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Mason Raymond experienced a “bounce back”. The soon-to-be 29 year old, Mason Raymond is capable of being a first line left winger for our Calgary Flames (with all due respect to Curtis Glencross) but those expectations seem so lofty. If Mason Raymond were to rescind back to scoring only 10 goals in a season, then his signing could be seen in the same light as many folks view the Deryk Engelland signing.
Let the games begin.