The future of Steve Mason

[Jackets16]

I suspect he'll be given a QO and then offered a "prove yourself consistent" contract. Maybe one or two years, as little raise as is legal under the CBA.

And I hope he takes it.

Can you tell me what he has done to earn a raise?

 

[Columbus Mike]

Mason is one player I feel certainly won't be back. Much like JD made the decision to fire GMSH weeks (months?) ago, he knows this ship has sailed.

The best thing that could happen is for Mason to play well so he can be traded. Let some team looking for a backup going into the playoffs overpay (6th round pick in 2020). He's going to be gone, let's get something for him.

 

[Mayor Bee]

I don't see the logic in just dumping him outright. There's no other goalie in the system who's immediately ready, and there's not a backup who's clearly NHL-caliber on a full-season basis.

Right now, the only NHL goalies under 30 who will be UFAs after this year are Jimmy Howard (who won't hit free agency anyway) and Anton Khudobin. Unloading Mason and then banking on bagging one of those two isn't the most logical thing I can think of.

Undoubtedly when Howson came on board, he wanted to move Nikolai Zherdev quickly. Instead, he had to wait a full year for his value to increase, then actually get something in return. Had he simply made the move at first, it likely wouldn't have been much of anything.

 

[Viqsi]

Can you tell me what he has done to earn a raise?

As an RFA I believe a minimum percentage is required. If we can go below that with the next contract I'd prefer it, but I'm not familiar with how that works under the current CBA.

 

[blahblah]

As an RFA I believe a minimum percentage is required. If we can go below that with the next contract I'd prefer it, but I'm not familiar with how that works under the current CBA.

Mason should probably be paying us for his next contract.

 

[KeithBWhittington]

More than anything, I think its in the best interest of the Player and the Team for a "fresh start".

I don't see Steve Mason ever settling in to what he could realistically become here.

Mason was seemed very lackidasical or uncaring in every interview the last couple of years. Not to say the blame is totally on him, the organization did itself and Mason an injustice by continued trotting him out there even when the vitriol and boos were loudest. The former regime's ignorance and faith caused a lot of these problems.

I'm not going to go so far to say GMJK and Davidson need to begin a systematic purge of the every reminder of the previous regime, but both Brassard and Mason just don't seem to fit with the current group.

 

[Nordique]

He needs a strong season, if nothing else than to showcase what skill he has for the rest of the league.

I don't think the organization has any further appetite for Mase at this point.

It would take alot for that sentiment to change imo.

 

[blahblah]

He needs a strong season, if nothing else than to showcase what skill he has for the rest of the league.

I don't think the organization has any further appetite for Mase at this point.

I think our new GM/Pres combo haven't been around long enough to lose their appetite. Interesting to see how this plays out.

 

[Jackets16]

As an RFA I believe a minimum percentage is required. If we can go below that with the next contract I'd prefer it, but I'm not familiar with how that works under the current CBA.

My point is you don't offer him a raise. You let him go if he wants a raise or requires a raise. The only way I bring him back is on a 1 year, minimum salary deal.

 

[Crede777]

Goaltender is the hardest position to project.

My gut instinct is that he is coming back slowly and could be a starter in 3 years if he continues to work hard and has a decent team in front of him. He needs to build his confidence up to the point where he isn't so easily shaken and I think that will take time.

But if you told me that we traded him and he put up a 1.2 GAA 0.93 SV% next year for another team (especially if that team were in the East) I wouldn't be completely surprised. Neither would I be surprised if he completely flopped and never played another NHL game again.

That's just the nature of the position and the nature of Mason.

I'd have no problem offering both Mason and Bobrovsky identical contracts this offseason. Maybe let one go if we know we can get someone better. Even if we're surprised by someone like Forsberg, Dansk, or Korpisalo I think next year it needs to be Bob + Mason or one of them + another established NHL goalie.

 

[Dr. Fire]

I am not so sure they will give up on him just yet, but I do believe that for him to stay he is going to have to take a big pay cut.

I think he has much better technique this season, and he is being much more disciplined staying in the crease, and cutting down angles. He is giving up way fewer 5-hole goals, his glove seems quicker, and his lateral movement is noticeably quicker than last year. I think the weight loss helped him tremendously.

I will be watching him very closely on this road trip. I think how he plays on the road will tell us a lot.

If by the end of this season he has his numbers at least mid-pack, I think that he just might get another look for a shorter, cheaper contract. If on the other hand they want to move him because of the whole culture thing, then everything else won't matter anyway.

 

[EspenK]

I don't see the logic in just dumping him outright. There's no other goalie in the system who's immediately ready, and there's not a backup who's clearly NHL-caliber on a full-season basis.

Right now, the only NHL goalies under 30 who will be UFAs after this year are Jimmy Howard (who won't hit free agency anyway) and Anton Khudobin. Unloading Mason and then banking on bagging one of those two isn't the most logical thing I can think of.

Undoubtedly when Howson came on board, he wanted to move Nikolai Zherdev quickly. Instead, he had to wait a full year for his value to increase, then actually get something in return. Had he simply made the move at first, it likely wouldn't have been much of anything.

This is the key thing. Someone posted a list of UFA goalies recently and it weren't purdy.

here's a link to the list from cap geek

http://capgeek.com/free-agents/?year_id=2013&team_id=-1&position_id=G&fa_type_id=2

 

[fox2usp]

This is the key thing. Someone posted a list of UFA goalies recently and it weren't purdy.

here's a link to the list from cap geek

http://capgeek.com/free-agents/?year_id=2013&team_id=-1&position_id=G&fa_type_id=2

OK, but are you going to pay Mason $3.2M+ for his services?? I wouldn't.

 

[Roadman]

What are thoughts on a Bob/McElhinney combo for next year?

 

[Robert]

What are thoughts on a Bob/McElhinney combo for next year?

Perhaps... Bob has not convinced me yet and McEelhinny is looking good for a career AHL guy....

In the end though I don't think Mason, Bobrovsky or McEelhinny are going to be part of the CBJ playoff solution...

 

[FlaggerX]

If Mase continues to play well offer him what we really think he's worth in market terms. He'll either sign or not, but no way he's worth what he's getting now. If someone else gives it to him, more power to them.


But we can trade Mason at the deadline if needed, because we do have McIlhenny in Springfield, and he's probably a better goalie right now.

 

[1857 Howitzer]

If Mase continues to play well offer him what we really think he's worth in market terms. He'll either sign or not, but no way he's worth what he's getting now. If someone else gives it to him, more power to them.


But we can trade Mason at the deadline if needed, because we do have McIlhenny in Springfield, and he's probably a better goalie right now.

He's a good AHL goalie and that's dose not always equal a good NHL goalie.

 

[EspenK]

Don't know the answer and i'm too tired to look it up. If we don't qualify Mase he then becomes a UFA correct? if he does can we then offer him a deal for less than his current? Might be a way to keep him at a lower cost if the market says no thanks to him.

 

[Mayor Bee]

Don't know the answer and i'm too tired to look it up. If we don't qualify Mase he then becomes a UFA correct? if he does can we then offer him a deal for less than his current? Might be a way to keep him at a lower cost if the market says no thanks to him.

Yes, yes, and that's a gamble. There's always a risk that not qualifying an RFA will result in hard feelings, causing him to go anywhere else except to his original team (no matter what the contract looks like).

Since a QA is a one-year offer, it can allow the team to retain his rights even if it's rejected.

 

[db2011]

I am not so sure they will give up on him just yet, but I do believe that for him to stay he is going to have to take a big pay cut.

I think he has much better technique this season, and he is being much more disciplined staying in the crease, and cutting down angles. He is giving up way fewer 5-hole goals, his glove seems quicker, and his lateral movement is noticeably quicker than last year. I think the weight loss helped him tremendously.

I will be watching him very closely on this road trip. I think how he plays on the road will tell us a lot.

If by the end of this season he has his numbers at least mid-pack, I think that he just might get another look for a shorter, cheaper contract. If on the other hand they want to move him because of the whole culture thing, then everything else won't matter anyway.

This is how I feel, too. No scout here, but he looks better this season. I was thinking that he seems more composed; while he'll still over-react and get floppy, it's not nearly as often. I think the condition he was in when he reported speaks to his commitment to improving.

If he continues to show a serious effort and the numbers reflect that, I wouldn't have a problem with him coming back for a short term, cheaper deal and see how it goes from there. As someone mentioned early in the thread, I think he'll wind up a starter somewhere.

But that's just what I think. My hunch is that the new regime don't agree and aren't interested in him. If his numbers improve to "good", maybe he has a shot here.

Maybe JK has an inside track to goalies playing in Europe

 

[TaketheCannoli]

That's one of the differences between today and the old days. Today many indeed are head cases. In the old days they were just plain crazy. You had to be playing without a mask. I remember and old Checker goalie, Gordon Dibley, out there with his face naked - and battered from all the pucks (a great guy, by the way).

I can't believe you remember Gordon Dibley!

Al White?
Serge Boudreault?
Nelson Tremblay?
Bill Bond?

Man those guys played without helmets- Well I think Alton White wore one.

 

[CBJx614]

This is how I feel, too. No scout here, but he looks better this season. I was thinking that he seems more composed; while he'll still over-react and get floppy, it's not nearly as often. I think the condition he was in when he reported speaks to his commitment to improving.

If he continues to show a serious effort and the numbers reflect that, I wouldn't have a problem with him coming back for a short term, cheaper deal and see how it goes from there. As someone mentioned early in the thread, I think he'll wind up a starter somewhere.

But that's just what I think. My hunch is that the new regime don't agree and aren't interested in him. If his numbers improve to "good", maybe he has a shot here.

Maybe JK has an inside track to goalies playing in Europe

Likee..... Korpisalo? Forsberg? Or from Europe Sweden? I really don't think we have a bad goaltending situation, lots of hungry skilled kids wanting a chance, a goaltender who has shown (in the past) that he's better when he's playing more games than sharing a net(bobrovsky). I think they need to give each goalie a few games like 4 or 5 not 1 or 2. Unless it's 2 really bad games its hard to get in your groove as a goaltender when your getting switched every other game.

 

[TheDrizzle81]

I know this is the last thing you all wanna hear but if you are patient with bobrovsky I beleive he will pan out. The only reason Philly went and overpaid for bryz was because the defense failed in the playoffs and they relied on a 20 year old playing his first season in North America. Then made him backup. Philadelphia and goaltenders is a failed combo. Luckily he's still very young. If you guys have some one who will actually work with him and give him a chance i think it will work out.

 

[blahblah]

I know this is the last thing you all wanna hear but if you are patient with bobrovsky I beleive he will pan out.

Why would that be the last thing we want to hear? I'm not sure either of them are our future #1, but they have a chance to make the case.

Bob needs more seasoning. We knew that before the season started. We have no choice but to be patient with him. To do otherwise would be unfair to him and the draft pick we gave up.

 

[Xoggz22]

For me this situation is entirely different if Mason is at $2.2MM vs the $3.2MM we're paying him this year. That's a tough qualifier to make. He's played better but is he a #1? He may get back to that status some day but do you want to pay a guy that kind of money to develop back into a #1? I don't. It's a risk.

I would offer him a 2 year deal below his current contract before we need to qualify him. See what the talks yield and then make the decision. If nothing comes of it trade him to Toronto over the summer.