About to debut for his fourth NHL team after signing with the Ducks this summer, the speedy veteran will be looking to reclaim some of the scoring touch that allowed him to record 223 points in his first 456 contests spent mostly with Vancouver before a brief stop in Toronto. Since then, Raymond has been pretty much a non-factor in 86 games spread over two injury-riddled campaigns with the Flames, a span in which he managed just 28 points and a minus-11 rating. Reuniting with old Canuck teammate Ryan Kesler may help, although they’re not likely to skate on the same line, at least initially, as Raymond is slated for a bottom-six role centered by someone like Rickard Rakell – a 20-goal scorer last year – or one of Ryan Garbutt or Nate Thompson on the fourth line. Regardless of where he slots in, Raymond is an exceptional skater with a ton of NHL experience that will provide a veteran presence and an ability to push the pace with his speed in what is a heavy, physical Pacific Division.
The long-time Canuck had an inconsistent first season with the Flames, despite scoring 23 points in 57 games. He had stretches of stellar play but also was the victim of the dreaded healthy scratch on multiple occasions. With a youth movement in full swing in Calgary, the extent that Raymond will be used in the upcoming campaign is up in the air. While there's no question Raymond has offensive tools, he will have to fight hard for a starting spot in camp and the preseason.
Raymond had a streaky season in Toronto in 2013-14, scoring 16 points in 14 October games, but cooling off to 45 points over the 82-game season. He was the Flames’ top offensive signing and he should slot into a top-six forward spot to replace the departed Michael Cammalleri. Raymond has never been a top-flight scorer and he certainly doesn't fit the gritty style beloved by team president Brian Burke. In any case, he should still provide stable scoring for the Flames, though nothing overly exciting.
Raymond wasn't re-signed by the Canucks for the 2013-14 season after a six-year career that has been somewhat inconsistent. Last season was mediocre for Raymond, who posted 10 goals and 12 assists over 46 games. He did score two points in the teams' final playoff game against San Jose, but it wasn't enough to help the Canucks avoid the sweep. Despite a steady decline in production over the past three seasons, the left wing is still expected to have multiple suitors in free agency. He skated on both the second and third lines for the Canucks last season and his role in 2013-14 shouldn't be drastically different, no matter where he lands. Depending on how he is able to contribute to his new team, Raymond may still be a player who has some fantasy upside, and may warrant consideration in deeper drafts for the coming season.
After posting a career-best campaign in 2009-10, Raymond has seen a steep decline in his production over the past two years. In that span, his point total dropped from 53 points (25 G, 28 A) to 20 points (10 G, 10 A) in 2011-12. He has struggled to regain his 50-point scoring form ever since suffering a scary vertebrae injury during the 2011 Stanley Cup Final. Despite back-to-back off years, Vancouver has stuck by Raymond, confident in his ability to bounce back with a full offseason to train this year. Raymond dropped all the way down to fourth-line duty by the end of the 2011-12 season, but he could be back in the top-six mix rather quickly if he shows signs of bouncing back. While he doesn’t offer as much upside as some other options, Raymond is a decent bounce-back player to target late in drafts of deep leagues.
After netting 25 goals during the 2010-11 campaign, Raymond had a lot of hype heading into last season. Unfortunately, the 26-year-old winger struggled with consistency and only managed 15 goals and 24 assists in 70 regular season games. Raymond suffered a vertebrae compression fracture in the Stanley Cup Final which is expected to keep him out of action until November. He’s still young enough to fulfill some of the promise shown in 2010-11, but Raymond will be a risky pick on draft day. Only invest in him if you have the extra bench spots to stash him for roughly the first month of the season.
It seems like each year the Canucks have a breakout season from an unexpected forward. In 2009-10, it was Raymond’s turn to fill that role. The 25-year-old winger finally landed a significant role on the team, skating with the top two lines for most of the season. The new role resulted in career-best marks in goals (25), assists (28) and shots on goal (217). With elite speed and a defined role, Raymond will have the opportunity to repeat last year’s success.
Raymond turned in a disappointing 2008-09 campaign, finishing with only 11 goals and 12 assists. Inconsistent play caused constant line juggling fir the 24-year-old winger, and his line placement is still uncertain entering this year. He could land as high as the second line or fall to the fourth. Despite the uncertainty, Raymond still possesses plenty of upside with his elite speed and could develop into a quality goal scorer if he lands on the right line.
The speedy winger showed promise in his rookie season by notching nine goals and 12 assists in 49 games before sustaining a knee injury. He isn't guaranteed a roster spot this season, but he should easily beat out competition with less experience with the big club. Raymond should continue to go through growing pains this season, but he will eventually turn into a top-six forward with minutes on the power play.
Raymond is an offensive forward with potential to make things happen when he is on the ice. His value will depend on his linemates, but he may get an opportunity to skate with the top lines. If he finds extended time on the Sedin line (Daniel and Henrik), his value would skyrocket.
Raymond is still a few years away from the NHL, but could be a point producer when he arrives.
Raymond finished fifth in the AJHL with 82 points in 55 games this past season and is a pure goal scorer. He has an exciting mix of speed and vision and will use his time at the University of Minnesota-Duluth to gain some strength, since he is a bit undersized as winger.
