Does anyone think we were able to get Mason for so cheap as a sort of favor from Columbus? I'm sure Mason, who's still a young goalie with a bunch of potential, has more market value than a bad backup goalie and a 4th round pick. Any clue why we were able to get him for next to nothing?
- JAKEw1234

They were able to get Mason so cheap for a couple reasons. First, he was due to be a RFA. To retain his rights, Columbus would have had to offer him at least a 10% raise on the $3.2mm he was making. His play didn't justify that kind of offer, and facing a situation where they had to sign Bobrovsky this summer, they might have been at the point where they non-tendered Mason, and basically gave him up for nothing.

The fact that he's been one of the worst statistical goalies in the NHL the past couple years was also a factor. They traded a guy they were likely facing losing for nothing in the off season-and who they had no need for any longer- for a 3rd rounder.

Apparently Avs turned down Calgary's offer of all three 1st round picks 6, 22, 28 for 1st overall....What would you guys have done?

Apparently Avs turned down Calgary's offer of all three 1st round picks 6, 22, 28 for 1st overall....What would you guys have done?
- flyerfan28

Traded it to the Flyers for Bryz.

Again, you are just assuming he demoted him because of one bad period. From Bill's blog during that series:

By his own admission, Sergei Bobrovsky has not felt mentally up to par since losing game one. Despite playing will in the team's 1-0 loss, he took the defeat hard (and had to be coaxed to speak afterwards) and then pressed in game two.

Speaking to Philadelphia-based Sovetsky Sport writer Natalia Bragilevskaya (who sometimes serves as his translator), Bobrovsky said after Game 2, "Physically, I feel normal. Mentally, not so much. But I will be OK soon."

Bobrovsky's pledge to bounce right back may have said one thing but his body language said something different. I suspect that Jeff Reese and Peter Laviolette picked up on it, and that figured in why Michael Leighton was chosen to back up Boucher.

I feel for Bobrovsky. He's a 22-year-old kid who still speaks limited English -- making it impossible for him to have a heart-to-heart with Reese or Boucher about the mental aspects of playoff hockey. The NHL season is longer than European seasons (which are now over, including the playoffs) and the Stanley Cup playoff atmosphere is different than the regular season. Bobrovsky entered the series knowing he was looking over his shoulder and would be yanked at the first sign of trouble. Those are pretty tough conditions under which to excel, but Bobrovsky played quite well in the first game.

Over the long haul, Bobrovsky should be fine. In the short term, it cannot help his psyche to have been demoted to third goalie. But the first concern of Laviolette and the team has to be to win. Yes, the rookie goaltender showed resiliency and mental toughness throughout the regular season whenever he had tough games. But if the coaching staff got the sense that Bobrovsky has been mentally "off" the last few days, they really had no choice but to scratch him.

It is only natural for young players, even the most confident and mentally strong ones, to go through times of self-doubt. It's normal to press and try to do a little too much. In Bobrovsky's case, the player has had too much time to be in his own head and dwell on things. Eventually, he should figure out that a bad game -- even in the playoffs -- can be put aside. Will that happen right away? We'll see, but if I were Peter Laviolette, I'd have reservations about turning back to Bobrovsky in this series.


http://www.hockeybuzz.com...911/45/35335#.Ub0svvbEqkI
- feelingkettle

OK, fine, Laviolette's handling of Bobrovsky was fantastic. It had no bearing on the front office's foolish decision to run out and sign Bryzgalov. None whatsoever.

Apparently Avs turned down Calgary's offer of all three 1st round picks 6, 22, 28 for 1st overall....What would you guys have done?
- flyerfan28

Probably said no. If the top 2 players in this draft are expected to be generational talents, then why would you give up your shot at that for anything but a major over payment? I would only trade the top pick if the #2 pick was coming back the other way as part of the deal.

My god..i love OT playoff hockey.

Traded it to the Flyers for Bryz.
- feelingkettle

Calgary does need a goalie

Probably said no. If the top 2 players in this draft are expected to be generational talents, then why would you give up your shot at that for anything but a major over payment? I would only trade the top pick if the #2 pick was coming back the other way as part of the deal.
- JAKEw1234

Yeah I think I agree with you, the 6th pick will be a good one but 22nd and 28th is a bit high. Would have wanted another impact player at least if Calgary even has one.

OK, fine, Laviolette's handling of Bobrovsky was fantastic. It had no bearing on the front office's foolish decision to run out and sign Bryzgalov. None whatsoever.
- Jsaquella

Context. All I'm saying is it's not as black and white as "one bad period and he's the 3rd goalie" as Bill himself said. If you go by what Bill said, was it really a mishandling if he was not "mentally ok" and had low confidence? Of course, this wouldn't have been an issue if we had a better option besides Boucher and Leighton behind him. And of course, the team wasn't playing amazing in front of either anyway.

Apparently Avs turned down Calgary's offer of all three 1st round picks 6, 22, 28 for 1st overall....What would you guys have done?
- flyerfan28

I think I would have turned it down, too. Of course, If I was Calgary, I wouldn;t have offered it.

Colorado has a lot of good young players that they have drafted the last few seasons. Getting one impact/potential franchise player helps them more than getting three more good to very good prospects.

On the other hand, Calgary's system isn't deep and they need to rebuild, badly. In their situation, I'd be looking to add more picks, not to trade mulitple picks to move up.

Gonna walk away for a minute. Game will end

Context. All I'm saying is it's not as black and white as "one bad period and he's the 3rd goalie" as Bill himself said. If you go by what Bill said, was it really a mishandling if he was not "mentally ok" and had low confidence? Of course, this wouldn't have been an issue if we had a better option besides Boucher and Leighton behind him. And of course, the team wasn't playing amazing in front of either anyway.
- feelingkettle

Unfortunately, it is that black and white. If Laviolette had concerns about the goaltending, he should have voiced them to Holmgren. Ken Hitchcock had zero trouble voicing his opinion to Clarke when he was the head coach.

Besides that, Boucher and Leighton were good enough the previous year for Laviolette to ride the pair to the Final, and Boucher was good enough to get the Flyers past Buffalo.

Laviolette panicked, and it created a bad situation that embarrassed Snider. Snider's overreaction to it was certainly far worse, but to say that it wasn't the impetus for Snider's foolishness is cutting Laviolette far more slack than I am willing to cut him. At the time, I was willing to do so. Upon further reflection and more evidence of Laviolette's tendencies and decisions as a coach, I find more reason not to cut him slack, even while I still blame Snider and the front office to a greater extent than Laviolette for the Bryzgalov mess.

Unfortunately, it is that black and white. If Laviolette had concerns about the goaltending, he should have voiced them to Holmgren. Ken Hitchcock had zero trouble voicing his opinion to Clarke when he was the head coach.

Besides that, Boucher and Leighton were good enough the previous year for Laviolette to ride the pair to the Final, and Boucher was good enough to get the Flyers past Buffalo.

Laviolette panicked, and it created a bad situation that embarrassed Snider. Snider's overreaction to it was certainly far worse, but to say that it wasn't the impetus for Snider's foolishness is cutting Laviolette far more slack than I am willing to cut him. At the time, I was willing to do so. Upon further reflection and more evidence of Laviolette's tendencies and decisions as a coach, I find more reason not to cut him slack, even while I still blame Snider and the front office to a greater extent than Laviolette for the Bryzgalov mess.
- Jsaquella

I'd say feel free to ignore Bill's words that I posted, but you already did.

I'd say feel free to ignore Bill's words that I posted, but you already did.
- feelingkettle

I'm sorry, I must have missed the part of the HB Code Of Conduct where it says I have to agree wholeheartedly with Bill.

Kind of funny that you point out me ignoring something Bill wrote, while you seem to completely ignore a key point to my posts:

I blame Snider and the front office more than I blame Laviolette for the Bobrovsky/Bryzgalov situation.

The difference is, you seem to want to completely exonerate Laviolette. I feel he deserves a slice of blame, along with Snider and Holmgren

Seriously I went to take a piss after the last whistle. I was gone for like 20 seconds :/

Seriously I went to take a piss after the last whistle. I was gone for like 20 seconds :/
- eayost

tied series

Gonna walk away for a minute. Game will end
- eayost

you called it

Seriously I went to take a piss after the last whistle. I was gone for like 20 seconds :/
- eayost

That's why you either need to have a strong bladder or keep your empties nearby during the playoffs

tied series
- moylander

1st time in 8 years that the SCF has been 1-1 after the first two games

I'm sorry, I must have missed the part of the HB Code Of Conduct where it says I have to agree wholeheartedly with Bill.

Kind of funny that you point out me ignoring something Bill wrote, while you seem to completely ignore a key point to my posts:

I blame Snider and the front office more than I blame Laviolette for the Bobrovsky/Bryzgalov situation.

The difference is, you seem to want to completely exonerate Laviolette. I feel he deserves a slice of blame, along with Snider and Holmgren
- Jsaquella

Stop with the straw men, please. If Bill says that Bob says he wasn't mentally with it, and Lavi knew that, I don't have a problem with him taking him out. Sure, it looked bad, because he had been good for most of the year, and there was basically crap behind him. But if what Bill said was true, and Bill did agree with the move, apparently, then I'm not going to get on Laviolette's case about it.

You can keep on believing that Laviolette had no idea what he was doing with goalies during that series, when he really didn't have much to work with: A mentally broken Bob (as Bill wrote), and a leaky Boosh and Leighton. It was embarrassing only because that's what the front office gave Lavi to work with.

you called it
- JAKEw1234

I came back after that post. I usually get back from a pee before the puck drops. I've learned my lesson yet again

1st time in 8 years that the SCF has been 1-1 after the first two games
- Jsaquella

Wait.. 8 years ago there was no SCF.

Stop with the straw men, please. If Bill says that Bob says he wasn't mentally with it, and Lavi knew that, I don't have a problem with him taking him out. Sure, it looked bad, because he had been good for most of the year, and there was basically crap behind him. But if what Bill said was true, and Bill did agree with the move, apparently, then I'm not going to get on Laviolette's case about it.

You can keep on believing that Laviolette had no idea what he was doing with goalies during that series, when he really didn't have much to work with: A mentally broken Bob (as Bill wrote), and a leaky Boosh and Leighton. It was embarrassing only because that's what the front office gave Lavi to work with.
- feelingkettle

Ridiculous that you expect Jsaq to take Bill's blog into account and refuse to address his stance of not blaming Lavi 100% and then resort to a cry of straw man tactics. What's next, Nazi mentions?

Ridiculous that you expect Jsaq to take Bill's blog into account and refuse to address his stance of not blaming Lavi 100% and then resort to a cry of straw man tactics. What's next, Nazi mentions?
- Flyskippy

what?

I came back after that post. I usually get back from a pee before the puck drops. I've learned my lesson yet again
- eayost

TiVo is what, 10 years old and DVR's are everywhere. You only have you to blame.