Mason “Plan B” Raymond
Posted: July 10, 2012 Filed under: Vancouver Canucks | Tags: booth, canucks, kesler, mason raymond, phoenix coyotes, shane doan, vancouver Comments OffToday the Canucks announced the re-signing of forward Mason Raymond. After the team elected to take him to “cut-back” arbitration to try and pay him less this season the Canucks and Raymond came to agreement on a 1 year, $2.275 million contract. That’s a pay-cut of around $300,000.
Despite that cut I personally don’t like the re-signing, but I do understand why the Canucks have done it. You don’t let a 27 year old top 6 forward go for nothing, even if he has been disappointing for 2 years straight. You retain him and you hope you can either help turn his career around or you turn him into other assets via trade. So kudos to Gillis, you haven’t let a guy go for nothing (take THAT David Poile).
The other news to break today was that Shane Doan, perennial Phoenix Coyote, is fielding offers from other teams AND the Vancouver Canucks are reportedly on his shortlist of his preferred teams to play for. Doan is just the guy the Canucks need – top 6 power forward, natural scorer, plays right on the edge (and over it at times) and a natural leader. He would be dreamy on Kesler’s wing in a way that David Booth hasn’t been and he would hold the spot in the top 6 that has in recent times belonged to Mason Raymond.
The Canucks have a few things in their favour when it comes to signing Doan:
- Doan and Canucks Assistant GM Laurence Gilman have known each other since the old Winnipeg Jets days
- Reportedly the Canucks have been after Doan in recent times, looking to trade for the big guy. Doan knows he is wanted there
- Doan’s wife is from Kamloops BC, he is a part owner of the Kamloops Blazers (my WHL team of choice) and he still spends parts of summers there
- The Canucks have cap space when you factor in the impending Luongo trade
- The Canucks will be in a position to truly fight for the Stanley Cup, something Doan hasn’t had much of an opportunity to do in the desert
So let’s say the Canucks sign Doan. Where does that leave Mason Raymond? No room in the top 6 for him anymore. The 3rd line is locked up, unless they play him at centre, which is scary and…. scary (but a possibility given Kesler’s current injury status). He’s proven himself to be a useless 4th liner.
This is why Mason Raymond is “Plan B” for the Canucks. They want Doan, but they know that he’s going to get bigger offers than what they can offer and if Doan decides to finish his career on a dollar high the Canucks will miss out. But don’t worry, we still have Mason Raymond at a reasonable cap hit to slot in to the top 6.
If the Canucks land Doan there will be a lot of happy fans and I think the fans will get even happier because with Doan in the top 6 there’s no room left for Mason Raymond. He will more than likely be traded to some sucker other team that would be very happy to have his speed and falling abilities on their side.
NHL Game Review – Vancouver Canucks @ Phoenix Coyotes 28th February 2012
Posted: March 1, 2012 Filed under: Hockey | Tags: Alxander Edler, game review, I'm a burger, Kevin Bieksa, mason raymond, Mike Smith, nhl, phoenix coyotes, samuel pahlsson, Schneider, shane doan, vancouver canucks, Whitney, zack kassian Comments OffCoverage Viewed:
Sportsnet Pacific
Commentators:
John Shorthouse, John Garrett, Dan Murphy
Commentating Highlight:
There’s always something with Shorty and John “I’m a burger” Garrett. Tonight Garett joked about everyone being tired after the deadline when the Canucks lineup was being questioned before the puck drop. Shorty and Garrett managed to get themselves lost wandering the streets of Phoenix. Garrett dropped a comical “Where’s the golf course?” and Shorty complained about getting sunburnt in the desert. Then there was Garrett’s exitement at Shane Doan’s appearance on Mantracker. Garrett was so excited, Shorty sounded like he didn’t care.
My favourite call of the game was by John Shorthouse: “Mason Raymond…. falls down”
Now Onto The Game:
Referees:
Chris Lee, Ian Walsh
Referee Performance:
I must admit I didn’t watch this game too closely but even with just one eye on the TV screen I saw a number of non-calls. How about Raffi Torres barging Sami Salo into Schneider after a whistle? Or those two times Canucks players were held without a call (Ryan Kesler and Henrik Sedin in attacking positions). Overall, fairly average.
Score Breakdown:
Final SO Canucks 1 Coyotes 2
Scorers:
Canucks
Alexander Edler PPG
Coyotes
Whitney 2 (Shootout winner)
Random Observations:
Are there actually hockey fans in Phoenix? As is usual in warmer climates there were a tonne of Canucks fans in the arena, but this time it seemed like they completely outnumbered Coyotes fans.
I enjoyed the arena DJ playing Breaking The Law by Judas Priest when Bieksa was sent to the penalty box.
Aaron Rome seemed really happy about something. He just kept on smiling, constantly. Perhaps he was happy to still be in Vancouver?
It was really nice to watch Schneider play and not have a single thought about him being traded before the end of the season. Us Canucks fans are lucky to have him. For now.
Game Highlights:
The first penalty of the game came when Kevin Bieksa high sticked Martin Hanzal. Seriously, Hanzal is huge, how Bieksa got his stick up there is beyond me.
This was the first game for new Canucks Samuel Pahlsson and Zack Kassian and I thought they both looked pretty good. Kassian started on the 4th line with Manny Malhotra and Maxim Lapierre but ended up playing shifts with the Sedins and Kesler and Raymond. He only just missed out on his first goal as a Canuck but was stopped by a great save from Mike Smith. Kassian was strong on the puck all night.
Samuel Pahlsson had a great wrap around attempt in the first that led to a great fight in front of the net. Unfortunately, like he did the whole game, Mike Smith held strong to keep the puck out.
The Canucks PP looked dangerous all night but could only convert on one attempt from four when an Alexander Edler shot deflected off 2 Coyotes players and into the net. Mike Smith had no chance on that one.
Schneider was strong all night and it was a pleasure to watch. He got embarrassed in the shootout but at some point every goalie does in the stupid shootout.
Mason Raymond was the usual Mason Raymond – speedy but ineffective overall. His spin-o-rama move in the shoot out should have worked but Mike Smith stuck his left leg out and stopped him dead. Awesome save by Smith but Raymond… ahh Raymond. I hope they don’t re-sign him. Unless he scores 10 goals on the way to the Stanley Cup winner in June.
The game in Phoenix was the last of the road trip for the Canucks. It was a fairly successful road trip, the Canucks scored 8 out of 12 available points on the trip.
