Then there isn't much to be upset about then. Have some faith. Mason has done a very good job with the team in front of him.

After a playoff series Mason wouldn't have come any cheaper.
- hereticpride

When I found out about the deal, I was very happy that it got done. Even though he hasn't been as good of late, he has still been great in his time here. He gives the team a chance to win most every night and doesn't give up many bad goals. I think the part I like best is I don't cringe when we get to the shootout anymore.. LOL

I can live with the term but he hasn't earned 4.1 million yet.

I would have liked 2 years at about 2 to 2.5 & waited till the summer to see how the goalie market shacked down. I would have truely made him earn a better contract after 2 more full seasons. Not based on such a small sample size.

Mason has shown that when comfortable he cn be average at best. Maybe its a mental thing I don't know.

I also hope I'm wrong.

As for the Bryzgalov signing. I still hate it. That cost Philadelphia Richards & Carter but the return from moving them at least made those deals very positive for years to come.
- striker777

Anders Lindback, Tomas Vokoun, Bryz, Neurvirth, Devan Dubnyk....these are some goalies with a 2-2.5 mil salary

His salary is right where it should be

perhaps they could have waited til the end of the year, but perhaps then a bit more money or a NMC would have been required to get this done?

all in all, I think it's a good deal for both sides, and I'm happy with the years, cash, timing ... and lack of a NMC.
- FlyerGuy

Mase would have been RFA at the end if this year so really the Flyers held all the leverage in dealing with him. They could have offered another bridge type deal for 1-2 years but I think they liked what they saw so far and gave him a deal that was very fair from both sides. Guy has been good in goal, hard worker, doesn't act quirky or throw his D under the bus, and accepts his share of responsibility in losses.
He moved the puck beautifully which is needed in this team.

You can argue that the Flyers could have played hardball with his next deal but I don't think other then saving a few bucks in the short term it would have accomplished anything but to alienate a guy who could be the answer for them to a long term problem.

Very fair deal for both sides.

Some observations from last night:
Long post.
- BiggE

Great post.
Agree on Berube, Rosehill, Torts.

Berube has really grown on me, I was doubtful initially.
I like his calm, no nonsense approach.

The bigger thing with Masons deal is that is gives the team an opportunity to have wiggle room.

With Heeter and Stolarz in the system you could have options down the line. Its a fairly risky deal, but honestly every contract with a goaltender is. Unless they are someone like Quick or Price.

MAB loaned to the Phantoms; to start playing again:

http://flyers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=701347

Anders Lindback, Tomas Vokoun, Bryz, Neurvirth, Devan Dubnyk....these are some starters with a 2-2.5 mil salary

His salary is right where it should be
- Giroux_Is_God

Time will tell.

Philly could have qualified him at 1.65 mil & played hardball with him. He had very little leverage in his current situation.

Lindback makes 1.8 & may not even be qualified as an RFA by TB at that $
Vokoun makes 2 & has had a long propserous & great career. He was offered more money by other teams but wanted a legitamate chance at a cup.
Bryzgalov 2.26 prorated for the season. We all know how that worked out. On #'s alone he wasn't a total disaster. It was a cap & longevity issue.
Dubnyk. 3.5 but he won't be qualified & may be done in the NHL. If he isn't he will be playing as a back up for peanuts moving forward. Mil, mil 5.
Neuvirth 2.5.

Anton Khudobin will be a UFA & he looks to be the next great goalie that

MAB loaned to the Phantoms; to start playing again:

http://flyers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=701347
- Giroux_Is_God

This could be interesting...he's on a one-way deal. That doesn't mean that he has to be on the NHL roster, obviously, but I wonder if he truly is healthy enough to play, if he could help.

He wasn't the fastest player, so he wouldn't necessarily bring more to the table in that regard. But IIRC, he actually has played well with Andrej Meszaros in the past.

I also thought his hockey sense wasn't too bad, and he was physical. Maybe...

MAB loaned to the Phantoms; to start playing again:

http://flyers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=701347
- Giroux_Is_God

good news!
I liked what I saw when he was here before the concussion.

Hoping for the best for him.

This could be interesting...he's on a one-way deal. That doesn't mean that he has to be on the NHL roster, obviously, but I wonder if he truly is healthy enough to play, if he could help.

He wasn't the fastest player, so he wouldn't necessarily bring more to the table in that regard. But IIRC, he actually has played well with Andrej Meszaros in the past.
- AllInForFlyers

I mean let's not forget this is a guy that (presumably) hasn't played hockey in about a year now.

If he gets another cup of tea in the NHL, it'll be down the stretch run.

Assuming he's healthy enough to play, like you said, it definitely will be interesting to see what happens. It's a hell of a log jam on the blue line, but unfortunately they're all #4-6 caliber defensemen

This could be interesting...he's on a one-way deal. That doesn't mean that he has to be on the NHL roster, obviously, but I wonder if he truly is healthy enough to play, if he could help.

He wasn't the fastest player, so he wouldn't necessarily bring more to the table in that regard. But IIRC, he actually has played well with Andrej Meszaros in the past.

I also thought his hockey sense wasn't too bad, and he was physical. Maybe...
- AllInForFlyers

can he be claimed by another team?
how does this work?

Waiver exempt because he is coming back from injury?

MAB loaned to the Phantoms; to start playing again:

http://flyers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=701347
- Giroux_Is_God

It would be really good thing for all parties if this guy is healthy...I really thought he was on his way to proving himself as an up and coming two way D man in the NHL before his concussion issues forced him out...it's hard to know what to think, because you never know how any given individual will be able to do with these things. Some guys seem to come back and show little to no ill effects...then you have others whose symptoms recur and they never really get back to how it was before. Either wa,y I wish him the best...he's a talented hockey player, a good person and has worked very hard to get back into the game. Good Luck Marc-Andre!

good news!
I liked what I saw when he was here before the concussion.

Hoping for the best for him.
- Marc D

I did too. Hopefully he'll regain that form. Needless to say, I just hope he can play the game, from a human being standpoint

can he be claimed by another team?
how does this work?

Waiver exempt because he is coming back from injury?
- Marc D

Well I know that recall waivers are gone now, so I'm guessing there should be no waivers involved at all here right?

I'm probably wrong though

any explanation as to why G was telling Raffl to go (frank) himself right before his interview with Coatsy?

any explanation as to why G was telling Raffl to go (frank) himself right before his interview with Coatsy?
- KGBflyers10

Raff was probably asking him why G got to be interviewed, and not him, since he scored the GWG after all

I also thought his hockey sense wasn't too bad, and he was physical. Maybe...
- AllInForFlyers

Yes...he (was/is?) really good in using his body at the blue-line to snuff out opposing attacks and he was good in man coverage...at times he showed flashes of his offensive potential, which could be significant given his history of production earlier in his pre-Flyer career...I guess it all depends on how things go, does he stay healthy, does he have any lingering symptoms that prevent him from being the player he was before etc.

Raff was probably asking him why G got to be interviewed, and not him, since he scored the GWG after all
- Giroux_Is_God

Between the chirps during the Winter Classic and against Steve Ott at the faceoff dot, I love Giroux's sense of humor.

any explanation as to why G was telling Raffl to go (frank) himself right before his interview with Coatsy?
- KGBflyers10

That was strange...hopefully it's just a little razzing going on or something and not a sign of some bad blood in the room...Raffl does seem to be a bit of a unique personality...maybe it's rubbing G the wrong way? This is, of course, all conjecture.

MAB loaned to the Phantoms; to start playing again:

http://flyers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=701347
- Giroux_Is_God

Great news, good for him. I hope the kid can stay healthy!

can he be claimed by another team?
how does this work?

Waiver exempt because he is coming back from injury?
- Marc D

I think it goes like this:

1. He is loaned to the Phantoms for conditioning, since he hasn't played for so long
2. At end of conditioning stint, he is eligible to return to the Flyers without being exposed to waivers
3. He has to be recalled, at the end of the stint -- he can't just stay down
4. After the stint, if the Flyers want to send him down, then he would be placed on waivers and could be claimed

any explanation as to why G was telling Raffl to go (frank) himself right before his interview with Coatsy?
- KGBflyers10

Pretty sure it was all in good fun for Raffl earning #1 star of game.

A couple other things

re: Giroux/Raffl
Most likely much ado bout nothing. Even at the amateur level, teammates bust each others stones constantly. I very much doubt its anything remotely important.

re: Mason's new deal
For the few clueless souls who think this is a bad contract, ponder this: By the start of next year, Mason will most likely be the 20th highest paid goalie in the league and by year 3 he might not even be in the top 25. Seems a pretty fair deal to me.

Stolarz currently being discharged from the hospital

I think it goes like this:

1. He is loaned to the Phantoms for conditioning, since he hasn't played for so long
2. At end of conditioning stint, he is eligible to return to the Flyers without being exposed to waivers
3. He has to be recalled, at the end of the stint -- he can't just stay down
4. After the stint, if the Flyers want to send him down, then he would be placed on waivers and could be claimed
- AllInForFlyers

ty

this makes perfect sense, but it's the NHL where goals that hit the netting are allowed without review