More importantly are we comparing Steve Mason to Ed Belfour?
- psuhockey

Wouldn't that be nice?!

More importantly are we comparing Steve Mason to Ed Belfour?
- psuhockey

There's a funny thing about Ed Belfour: He was only slightly more accomplished than Mason was at the time he went to Dallas, and he actually was trending DOWN when he got to Dallas.

You can look it up. You'll be surprised at what you find.

Belfour was the right goalie at the right time, in the right system, for Dallas. But his career resurgence BEGAN there. It was a risk when the Stars got him, because he looked like he was declining, maybe rapidly.

There's a funny thing about Ed Belfour: He was only slightly more accomplished than Mason was at the time he went to Dallas, and he actually was trending DOWN when he got to Dallas.

You can look it up. You'll be surprised at what you find.

Belfour was the right goalie at the right time, in the right system, for Dallas. But his career resurgence BEGAN there. It was a risk when the Stars got him, because he looked like he was declining, maybe rapidly.
- AllInForFlyers

And, according to most accounts, he was bat poop crazy too!

There's a funny thing about Ed Belfour: He was only slightly more accomplished than Mason was at the time he went to Dallas, and he actually was trending DOWN when he got to Dallas.

You can look it up. You'll be surprised at what you find.

Belfour was the right goalie at the right time, in the right system, for Dallas. But his career resurgence BEGAN there. It was a risk when the Stars got him, because he looked like he was declining, maybe rapidly.
- AllInForFlyers

Belfour had at least 3 seasons in Chicago where he played at an elite level.

They were a damned good team... probably most akin to the Kings of today. I think it would be a lot tougher for that team to come out of a packed/speedy West, but I imagine if we could reach that far back w/ stats, we might find that team had the puck more often than not.

I could only wish the Flyers were that structurally/tactically sound... there are some interesting parallels in roster composition, though.
- Tomahawk

Hitch says Hi!

That Stars team wasn't fast. It was fast enough, and they were smart. They had tons of hockey sense and didn't beat themselves.
- AllInForFlyers

Yeah, I'm one that believes that you don't need the most talented players to win... if you have 20 guys that play well as a team.

Problem is, the Flyers haven't learned to do that yet. I'm less worried about the players, and more worried about them getting on the same page again after 2-years of playing jazz.

Belfour had at least 3 seasons in Chicago where he played at an elite level.
- PLindbergh31

Agreed -- those early 90s Blackhawks teams were great.

But I'd argue that Mason's rookie season was stellar, and I'd also argue that Mason last year was a damn good goalie for the Flyers last season.

Again, I'm not saying the comparisons are exact. Mason needs to do it again.

But Mason's done it twice, been an exemplary goalie, twice for entire seasons. I truly believe he can, and will, do it again.

I think we should talk about AMac

Belfour had at least 3 seasons in Chicago where he played at an elite level.
- PLindbergh31

It definitely takes a special goalie to be rock solid for a team where he only sees a little over 20 shots per game, since most goalies do a lot better the more shots they see:

http://www.sportsnet.ca/h...r-with-high-shot-volumes/

Agreed -- those early 90s Blackhawks teams were great.

But I'd argue that Mason's rookie season was stellar, and I'd also argue that Mason last year was a damn good goalie for the Flyers last season.

Again, I'm not saying the comparisons are exact. Mason needs to do it again.

But Mason's done it twice, been an exemplary goalie, twice for entire seasons. I truly believe he can, and will, do it again.
- AllInForFlyers

I really like what I've seen from Mason thus far. Not sure if that's because I'm used to watching majority of Flyers goaltenders be sieve like allowing one soft goal after another.

All I ask of a goaltender is to make all the saves he's supposed to make, and some of the saves he shouldn't. That right there is a formula for always keeping your team in the game.

There's a funny thing about Ed Belfour: He was only slightly more accomplished than Mason was at the time he went to Dallas.
- AllInForFlyers

So 2 vezina awards and 3 Jennings trophy constitutes slightly more accomplished in your book.

The only thing comparable about Belfour's time with the Blackhawks and Mason's time with Columbus is a Calder trophy. Mason sank like a stone after and was dumped while Belfour was traded because of a contract dispute.

It definitely takes a special goalie to be rock solid for a team where he only sees a little over 20 shots per game, since most goalies do a lot better the more shots they see:

http://www.sportsnet.ca/h...r-with-high-shot-volumes/
- Tomahawk

I can't recall, did Belfour see relatively few shots while he was in Chicago?

Yeah, I'm one that believes that you don't need the most talented players to win... if you have 20 guys that play well as a team.

Problem is, the Flyers haven't learned to do that yet. I'm less worried about the players, and more worried about them getting on the same page again after 2-years of playing jazz.
- Tomahawk

I do acknowledge that it's not going to be as simple as them flipping a switch.

But there's enough there, if they're committed to it. That's a tough thing, because as you say, you don't know if Berube will ask that of them, and the analogs aren't exact.

But to me, in looking at this roster, I don't see why they wouldn't play a lockdown system. They're not outscoring teams this year. But they have the pieces to really make it hard on teams to score if they play a disciplined, patient system.

I mean, think about it: They've been damn good on the PK for years now. The PP helps them win games that maybe they shouldn't.

The problem has been, under Laviolette, they traded a few too many chances or gave up a few too many prime chances. But if they cut down on the shots against and eliminate some of those chances...they have some interesting pieces, if that is what Berube asks of them.

I think we should talk about AMac
- BINGO!

Clearly the elephant in the room

I think Coburn plays right D more out of necessity than any other reason. Usually, its offensive dmen that like to play their off side because it allows their forehand shot to fact the net. However, I think Coburn plays his off side because he's the only dman with the speed needed to compensate for always being on his backhand side in the D zone.

I actually think he could be more effective on his natural left side as it will allow him to move the puck up just a bit faster.
- BiggE

He's been a RD as long as he's been a Flyer, not sure it's necessity.

great read

Clearly the elephant in the room
- PhillySportsGuy

Specifically, is he single? y/n

Agreed -- those early 90s Blackhawks teams were great.

But I'd argue that Mason's rookie season was stellar, and I'd also argue that Mason last year was a damn good goalie for the Flyers last season.

Again, I'm not saying the comparisons are exact. Mason needs to do it again.

But Mason's done it twice, been an exemplary goalie, twice for entire seasons. I truly believe he can, and will, do it again.
- AllInForFlyers

Mason was around league average for save percentage for the season last year and went thru a stretch of below .900 save percentage in December and January. I think you are overestimating his overall performance last year.

So 2 vezina awards and 3 Jennings trophy constitutes slightly more accomplished in your book.

The only thing comparable about Belfour's time with the Blackhawks and Mason's time with Columbus is a Calder trophy. Mason sank like a stone after and was dumped while Belfour was traded because of a contract dispute.
- psuhockey

Again, Belfour played on great teams in Chicago, and he got results and contributed to that success.

What has Steve Mason done since he got away from one of the worst franchises in the NHL's modern era, an expansion franchise that has only made the playoffs twice in its existence?

37-20-7, with a GAA of around 2.35 and a SVPCT of about .920.

That's pretty good -- you can win with that, and Mason is doing that with not quite the talent Belfour had in Chicago.

Specifically, is he single? y/n
- BINGO!

Yes. Each girl he dates is happier and better with someone else.

Mason was around league average for save percentage for the season last year and went thru a stretch of below .900 save percentage in December and January. I think you are overestimating his overall performance last year.
- psuhockey

Based on the amount of scoring chances he faced, I'd say watching the games proves how good he actually was compared to looking at stats (advanced or otherwise). On a shot-to-shot basis, he was as good as most goalies, and I think he actually outplayed Lundqvist in the playoffs.

The problem has been, under Laviolette, they traded a few too many chances or gave up a few too many prime chances. But if they cut down on the shots against and eliminate some of those chances...they have some interesting pieces, if that is what Berube asks of them.
- AllInForFlyers

The thing about those Lavi teams is that they still won the possession battle most nights, because they were so damned aggressive w/ applying pressure all over.

It's definitely been a rough transition the past few seasons... definitely seemed like a disconnect between the front-office and the coach wreaked havoc on the ice. With Hexy and Berube on the same page, I think chances are Chief will get the players he asks for, and some players he doesn't like will get the boot (Hartsy).

Hopefully that manifests itself in a clear identity on the ice, and the guys being on the same page.

Mason was around league average for save percentage for the season last year and went thru a stretch of below .900 save percentage in December and January. I think you are overestimating his overall performance last year.
- psuhockey

I'm not overestimating it; I'm saying that you can win with it.

The guy's a good goalie. Ed Belfour was 14-24-6 the season before the Stars got him, with a GAA over close to 3.00 and a SVPCT below .900.

It's not like Belfour looked that much different than Mason did before the Flyers got him -- again, a better track record, but there were significant questions about where Belfour was.

Yes. Each girl he dates is happier and better with someone else.
- PhillySportsGuy

He's been a RD as long as he's been a Flyer, not sure it's necessity.
- Jsaquella

I hear you, but during most, if not all of his time here, they have sorely lacked talented right handed shooting dmen.

Heck, I could be wrong, but I just think he would be better on his natural side.