Vancouver Canucks: Mason Raymond's Return Could Be a Statement for the Season

Last night saw Mason Raymond make his return to the Vancouver Canucks lineup for the first time since suffering a broken vertebra in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals last June after getting crunched in a puck battle against Boston's Johnny Boychuk.

The injury has kept Raymond off the ice and out of the game for six months and had him in a custom back brace for three of those six months. The fact that Raymond was able to come back to the game he loves in just six months is spectacular in itself.

Raymond returned to the Canucks playing on the third line with fellow speedsters Cody Hodgson and Jannik Hansen, and it was hard to not notice Raymond on the ice. In fact, the circumstance of his injury aside, Raymond looked fresher than we may have ever seen him. At least last night's game against Calgary gave us a peek at the Mason Raymond of 2009-10 that Canucks fans grew to love when he finished with a solid 53 points with 25 goals and 28 assists. 

Last night was supposed to be Mason Raymond's second game back had it not been for a paperwork mix-up on Thursday evening, when he was slated to be in the lineup against the Nashville Predators. The Canucks could have used Raymond in that one; they suffered a 6-5 loss at the hands of Mike Fisher and the Preds largely due in part to the Canucks poor penalty killing. Raymond not only was effective on the PK last night for the Canucks, but he also got time on the second power play unit. 

Mason Raymond finished the game with one point, an assist on Jannik Hansen's late goal to push the Canucks lead to 4-1 before they eventually skated away with a 5-1 victory over their biggest rival in the Flames. Raymond was just flat-out noticeable out there. It isn't often where a third line player is that noticeable on the ice, and if so, it is rare it is for good reason, but Raymond's play had him in everyone's good books after last night’s game.

Now, Canucks fans, don't get ahead of yourselves. Despite all previous praise, this was just one game against a struggling Calgary Flames team.

If the speedy line of Raymond-Hodgson-Hansen continues to perform, however, be very excited. As was shown by the Canucks last season, a team that can roll four lines effectively can do big things. The Canucks third line looks poised to do big things in both ends of the ice should they remain healthy. Raymond's return could mark an underrated, but influential turn in the Canucks season.

John Bain is a Bleacher Report Featured Columnist

Follow him on Twitter: @JohnBainSports