Flames waive Paul Byron, Mason Raymond, and send down Granlund

VAN puts Vey and Corrado on waivers. CGYY puts Paul Byron and Mason Raymond on waivers. BOS puts Max Talbot on.

— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) October 5, 2015

Hard choices are literally hard choices, especially with training camp wrapping up and teams needing to solidify their opening night rosters. Given the logjam in the bottom-six, it would eventually come to this point where some names like Mason Raymond and unfortunately Paul Byron would show up.

With the waiving of Raymond, it’s a sensible decision from a financial standpoint. The former Canucks and Maple Leafs forward cashed in on his performance in Toronto. So far in Calgary, it’s been less than stellar, including numerous healthy scratches throughout the team’s exceptional season. He’s owed $3.15M until the end of 2016-17. Last season’s 12 goals and 11 assists in 57 games was not what the team had expected.

Byron on the other hand, is an unfortunate causality of the bottom-six situation. There is no denying that he is a capable forward at the NHL level, who makes players around him better. But the biggest detraction of course: health, something that has plagued and maligned him the last few years. Despite that, when healthy, Byron put up above-average numbers in his limited role. Again something that he has consistently done at the NHL level when called upon.

It's likely that Raymond clears, given his contract and below average performance as of late. Byron on the other hand, may be a cheap pickup for a team if he doesn't clear. Though if he does clear, he'll definitely improve Stockton as his history in the AHL suggests. On the fiscal side of things, if Raymond clears, the Flames would save $950K in cap space. If Byron clears, the Flames will save $900K.

The #Flames have assigned Markus Granlund to the @AHLHeat ~ http://t.co/H0iinK8Dvi Calgary has 26 players remaining at camp.

— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) October 5, 2015

On top of the waiver news, the Flames also assigned Markus Granlund to Stockton of the AHL. Following the similar depth on the team, this was likely. Granlund is on the final year of his entry-level contract and the team is going to be looking for a big year from him. At this point, his performance in the NHL and AHL suggests a tweener. With his time split between Calgary and Adirondack last season, he fared quite well back in the AHL when sent down.

With the Flames training camp down to 26, it’s worth noting that Jonas Hiller, Karri Ramo, and Joni Ortio are still at camp. All three are would need to clear waivers if sent down.

by Mike Pfeil