Disappointing Raymond may be on trading block
The mysterious Mason Raymond continued to confound Saturday night.
After the Calgary Flames had taken all of their shots in the shootout, it was left to Raymond to try to get the equalizer to keep the Vancouver Canucks' victory hopes alive. But Flames goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff easily stopped his weak attempt and Calgary prevailed 3-2.
It was another lowlight for Raymond, who thrived offensively after returning to the lineup in December following a career-threatening back injury suffered in last spring's Stanley Cup finals, but has done little scoring-wise since then.
Why coach Alain Vigneault, whose team next hosts Phoenix on Monday, chose him for the pivotal shootout attempt, when he has a spotty track record in the extra session, is another matter. One can only surmise that he was testing Raymond -- or showcasing him -- in advance of the Feb. 27 trade deadline.
Raymond's name has come up repeatedly in trade speculation lately. One should never place much stock in such discussion until closer to deadline day. But there is an inevitable feeling that Raymond's days with the organization are numbered.
At six-foot and 185 pounds, the Cochrane, Alta., native is too slight to play the third-line role in which he now finds himself. He has lost his former spot on the second line because he is not producing the way he did two seasons ago, when he scored a career-high 25 goals and 53 points.
Last season, he fell to 39 points and, with this season seriously curtailed by his health woes, his output continues to decline. He has a modest six goals and seven assists in 30 games.
Although he is reliable defensively, sports a decent plus-seven mark, and can kill penalties, his $2.55 million contract dictates that he score goals -- or set up a sufficient number -- and he is doing neither.
Raymond's main problem is that he has speed to burn, but he plays too often on the outside. While good along the boards and capable in the corners, he gets knocked around easily in the high-traffic areas near the net. Still, it's a mystery why he does not go into the so-called dirty areas more often if he wants to increase his productivity.
The back injury can't be blamed, because he played the same way before he got hurt.
Since Raymond is due to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season and due a minimum 10 percent raise if the team re-signs him, general manager Mike Gillis is likely inclined to deal him at the trade deadline in order to get something for him.
A move will likely not go over well in the dressing room, because -- pardon the pun -- everybody loves Raymond.
However, Gillis can't afford to like Raymond's high salary and low production much longer.
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