Bill, your quote below addressing Adam Proteau's blog about the poor play from Mason mentions 3 reasonably reliable defenders, (one we know is Provorov). I'm curious, if I may ask who the other 2 are in your opinion.


"Mason has been rather inconsistent this season. No question about it. But the team's biggest issue with its GAA is NOT the goaltending. It's a blueline with at most, three reasonably reliable defenders one of whom is a 19-year-old rookie."
- puckhead17

I'm guessing Gudas and MDZ. I know Del Zotto has struggled and been pressing this year, but he was their best Dman last year and I still trust him much more than I do AMac or Manning.

I'm guessing Gudas and MDZ. I know Del Zotto has struggled and been pressing this year, but he was their best Dman last year and I still trust him much more than I do AMac or Manning.
- BiggE

I said the two I did because I was basing on this year. Amac and Manning have had stretches of really good play. Don't get me wrong it's been ugly too. It was really tough choosing my third.

Mason is by far the biggest problem on this team. The defense did not play well in 14-15 or 15-16, and he was still around .920. This season he hasn't been inconsistent, he's been awful. Just like Dubnyk, he's following up three very good years by completely falling apart under the pressure of a contract year.
- Feanor

I disagree, not totally, Mason can certainly play better, but he is not the biggest problem on this team just one of many. The overall team D has simply been atrocious. It's not the amount of shots against but the quality. The amount of horrible D zone breakdowns and coverage mistakes that lead to grade A chances are just mind boggling.

One thing I totally agree with is that I do question Mason's mental toughness. I still don't know what his personal issue was last season, so I can't comment on that. But yeah, you have a point: playing some of your worst hockey in years during your make or break contract season is not a good sign that you handle pressure well. Still, with that being said, I think Mason can be a successful #1 goalie if the team in front of him can at least play solid D. I think when it comes to purely stopping the puck, Neuvirth is a bit better, but Mase handles the puck better and is much more durable.

At the end of the day, by the time this team is competing for a Cup, I very much doubt either of our current goalies will be on the roster.

Gudas is probably one.

The other is MacDonald or Manning, I'd bet as each has had their share of strong games. Not without clunkers mind you.
- dragonoffrost

i was curious if Bill would have included Ghost in there?
Gudas was another I was wondering (from his perspective)

or Streit?

I said the two I did because I was basing on this year. Amac and Manning have had stretches of really good play. Don't get me wrong it's been ugly too. It was really tough choosing my third.
- dragonoffrost

Yeah, true that, the D this year has mostly been:

Provorov-crap
crap-Gudas
crap-crap

They really need to later that crap quartet!

I'm guessing Gudas and MDZ. I know Del Zotto has struggled and been pressing this year, but he was their best Dman last year and I still trust him much more than I do AMac or Manning.
- BiggE

Ghost was who I was curious about, or Gudas, but MDZ is another.
when Bill mentions only 2 excluding Provorov it made me curious.

and theres even Striet to consider

I didn't cry when Kane scored the GWG. I was in such a state of shock that I had no emotions at that point. I almost cried when they lost in the ECF in 2004, though. And much like you with the Nystrom goal, I cannot bring myself to watch a replay of the Kane OT goal.

Yeah, true that, the D this year has mostly been:

Provorov-crap
crap-Gudas
crap-crap

They really need to later that crap quartet!
- BiggE

I'm ready to work with this for next year:
Provorov-?
?-Gudas
Ghost-? (hoping Morin)

Sanheim might get the slot beside Gudas. Then we know we get AMac or Manning with Provy.

I grew up a huge Don Mattingly fan. Worshipped him. And it was in an era of baseball where the Yankees were winning 94, 95, 96 games a year playing the same schedule as every other team in the AL. But before the wildcard it did not matter because they played in the wrong division and it pissed me off to see Kansas City or some other western division team winning 85 games and making the playoffs with the SAME schedule. It never seemed fair (and it wasn't)


So anyway, when they made the playoffs in 95 it was exciting. Donnie Baseball was on the downside of his career and retiring because of injuries but he batted over .400 in the series with a couple of big home runs. The Yankees had the lead in the series but it just felt precarious.

So in that final game 5, when Edgar Martinez gets that hit and Griffey scored the game winning run from 2nd was the worst moment of my sports life because I knew my HERO was done. Never having a chance to win a World Series.
- MBFlyerfan

Once the Yankees replaced that scrub with a true superstar, they won 4 WS in 5 years.

Mason is by far the biggest problem on this team. The defense did not play well in 14-15 or 15-16, and he was still around .920. This season he hasn't been inconsistent, he's been awful. Just like Dubnyk, he's following up three very good years by completely falling apart under the pressure of a contract year.
- Feanor

and Neuvirth, apparently

Mason could be covering up some issues better, but he is not the biggest problem on this team by any stretch of the imagination. The defense itself (from a skill level perspective) wasn't as good in 14 or 15, but the forwards were absolutely better in coverage and the team defense was much better

Ghost was who I was curious about, or Gudas, but MDZ is another.
when Bill mentions only 2 excluding Provorov it made me curious.

and theres even Striet to consider
- puckhead17

Bill has mentioned many times that while he disagreed with the recent benching of Ghost, he can see where the kid has been struggling defensively and Streit missed a lot of time, so that only really leaves MDZ, Manning or AMac.

I'm ready to work with this for next year:
Provorov-?
?-Gudas
Ghost-? (hoping Morin)

Sanheim might get the slot beside Gudas. Then we know we get AMac or Manning with Provy.
- dragonoffrost

not MDZ?

Bill has mentioned many times that while he disagreed with the recent benching of Ghost, he can see where the kid has been struggling defensively and Streit missed a lot of time, so that only really leaves MDZ, Manning or AMac.
- BiggE

Ghost has struggled, but his offense taken into consideration really helps his cause somewhat.

Ghost has struggled, but his offense taken into consideration really helps his cause somewhat.
- puckhead17

His offense is down quite a bit from last year, so I think not.

not MDZ?
- puckhead17

MDZ is doing his best to earn a 1-year "prove it" deal again.

I'm ready to work with this for next year:
Provorov-Weber
Josi-Gudas
Ghost-Subban

Now get it done, Hexy!


Sanheim might get the slot beside Gudas. Then we know we get AMac or Manning with Provy.
- dragonoffrost

FTFY

MDZ is doing his best to earn a 1-year "prove it" deal again.
- jmatchett383

And it might not be here.

MDZ is doing his best to earn a 1-year "prove it" deal again.
- jmatchett383

He has reshaped his game into a more stay at home guy.
shot blocking, not getting caught deep providing odd man rushes.

Bill, your quote below addressing Adam Proteau's blog about the poor play from Mason mentions 3 reasonably reliable defenders, (one we know is Provorov). I'm curious, if I may ask who the other 2 are in your opinion.


"Mason has been rather inconsistent this season. No question about it. But the team's biggest issue with its GAA is NOT the goaltending. It's a blueline with at most, three reasonably reliable defenders one of whom is a 19-year-old rookie."
- puckhead17

my guess, based on the entire season, would be Gudas and Manning

His offense is down quite a bit from last year, so I think not.
- BiggE

sophmore jinx happens to the best of them.

my guess, based on the entire season, would be Gudas and Manning
- YuenglingJagr

Manning?

my guess, based on the entire season, would be Gudas and Manning
- YuenglingJagr

If it's Amac are people going to burn this mother down?

I never cried over the games. I just broke stuff. I crushed a pair of $200 dollar prescription glasses over a 4-4 tie in Pittsburgh one year. Also, many a remote control has been smashed to pieces over an ill timed goal against.

However, as I have hit 40 and have 3 young kids I have mellowed. I figure if they are not going to call a timeout when needed or go after a player after they deck Cousins after the whistle or go after Oshie after he runs MacDonald with under 2 seconds left, why should I invest any more emotion.

However, when and if the day comes that I get to see my first Stanley Cup win, I will probably cry at that point.

My wife the other day, got annoyed I was paying attention to the game more than her. I simply paused the TV, looked at her and said, "Honey, I love you, but I've loved the Flyers longer."

He has reshaped his game into a more stay at home guy.
shot blocking, not getting caught deep providing odd man rushes.
- puckhead17

That was last season. This season he's almost been Rangers MDZ again. He gets a 1 year deal if he's brought back. They really need to open spots for Morin, Sanheim, and/or Hagg. Streit and Schultz leave this year but that gets us to 6 D so one spot opens only. I picture a rotation of Manning and MacDonald as the 7 next year really.

If you let MDZ walk that's 2 spots. Plus looking cap wise, letting those 3 D go plus Neuvy or Mase go you get between 13 and 20 million open to sign 2 rookie D, a goalie and call up Stolie, and get a LW to help G.

Gudas is probably one.

The other is MacDonald or Manning, I'd bet as each has had their share of strong games. Not without clunkers mind you.
- dragonoffrost

Provorov, MacDonald, and Gudas.