At the sound of the final buzzer, the game ends and the business begins.
So it’s business as usual for Cochrane’s Mason Raymond.
Signed to a $1-million, one-year deal last fall with the Toronto Maple Leafs, the six-foot, 185-pound left wing is less than a week away from free agency.
If Toronto doesn’t commit by July 1, Raymond’s an unrestricted free agent available to sign with any National Hockey League team.
“I’m technically owned by the Maple Leafs until July 1. We’re hoping to have some discussions here in the next week or two leading up to the draft and free agency to see what direction we’re heading,” Raymond said. “In this business you never quite know where you’re at until certain things are on paper. I can’t give a direction either way what’s going to happen yet – whether I’ll be a free agent or a Toronto Maple Leaf. I’m hoping to know a lot more in the next week.
“It’s all part of the business.”
The Cochrane Minor Hockey product and former Camrose Kodiak is coming off his first season in Toronto after spending six seasons with the Vancouver Canucks. He scored 19 goals and 26 assists in 82 games for the Leafs this past season, the first season of his NHL career he hasn’t skated in the playoffs.
“I fell a little short. I would have liked to hit that milestone at 20. It would have been the 100th of my career as well. That’s the way it goes. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t. You carry on.”
Following the season, team officials met with all players prior to summer break.
“I had some great exit meetings. I met with (general manager Dave) Nonis and (president Brendan) Shanahan and had some good talks,” Raymond said. “Again, you never know which direction things are going to go. They have to figure out the (salary) cap and what they can spend on players. I think as the time gets pressed is when things really get moving.”
And he’s hopeful things will come together in Toronto again. He enjoyed his first season in one of the largest hockey markets on the planet.
“There are Leafs fans all over, which is awesome. The history there, being an Original Six team, all those things I think are part of why that is such a unique place to play. There are passionate fans for every team. I played in a Canadian city before in Vancouver, but playing in the Toronto market is something special. With the history and everything else surrounding it, it’s a real honour to wear the Maple Leaf.”
On Canada Day he’ll know if he’s still sporting a Maple Leaf on his NHL sweater.
