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Just two summers ago, Mason Raymond was literally living out his childhood dream.

The 30-year-old Cochrane native had hit the free agent market on July 1, 2014, after a one-year term with the Toronto Maple Leafs and was looking for a home.

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So, signing a three-year $9.5-million deal with the Calgary Flames, Raymond came home.

“I’m a little lost for words. It really is a surreal feeling,” said the speedy left-winger at the time. “The opportunity to play for the Calgary Flames has always been something I’ve dreamed of. For this to become reality, it’s something special.”

The National Hockey League can be a cruel business.

On Wednesday, Raymond was put on waivers with the intention of being bought out as the Flames elected to take advantage of the buyout window which goes until 3 p.m. MT on Thursday.

“The term was very important for us,” Treliving had said at the time of signing Raymond, who had scored 19 goals and 26 assists in 82 games with the Maple Leafs in 2013-14. “We wanted to keep things three years and under … term, in a cap system, is what strangles you.