Totally clean.

Hockey happens. It’s a shame but it didn’t look like a cheap shot or dirty play. If it was dirty, he would have made no attempt to turn his hip into Raymond. Hope he heals quickly.

To me, it looks more like Ballard was trying to get his knee out of the way, not “hang” it as the speaker in the clip says.

I don’t watch the Canucks much, but when I read the win “was a costly one,” I’m thinking something happened to a Sedin or Luongo, or any of their top four defensemen who happens to be healthy. All due repsect to Raymond, but he doesn’t rate. He’s a decent AHL player, like most of the Canucks forward corps.

All due repsect to Raymond, but he doesn’t rate. He’s a decent AHL player, like most of the Canucks forward corps.

That’s an interesting take, shep, but one I must respectively disagree with.  I’m not a Canucks fan, but I think it’s fair to compare Mason Raymond with Torrey Mitchell (a young speedster on the Sharks).  Not that I’m wishing any harm to Torrey, but if it’s Mitchell lying in a crumpled heap instead of Raymond, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the term “costly” in Bay Area stories.

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Nah, I don’t think the hit was ‘clean’ (i don’t know why anyone would consider knee-on-knee clean) but it doesn’t look like Ballard intended for it either.  I think Alanah nailed it.  Ballard lined up a hip check, Raymond was going too fast, knees collided, ergo ligament tear.  Unfortunate, but not worth review.

Shep - Vancouver’s defense-first system has very little speed or creativity when it comes to entering the offensive zone.  Mason Raymond’s transition to the NHL has provided quite a bit of that.  Personally, I really do find the loss “costly”.  We’re not exactly overloaded with these sorts of players.

(On the other hand, thank god it’s not another defenseman...)

This should mean that Shannon draws into the line-up automatically though right?

Why Cowan ever gets the nod is beyond me.  He’s barely fought this year, takes some bad penalties, and adds zero offence.  If he would deliver a couple good hits each game he played I’d say he’s worth it, but that sure hasn’t been the case.