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

Yes, and he was actually pretty good at it last year.

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.
- dragonoffrost

Which top-line LW UFA were you thinking of?

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.
- dragonoffrost

agreed he's been closer to Rangers MDZ outside of the preseason and a handful of games

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."
- hockeylover

Which top-line LW UFA were you thinking of?
- jmatchett383

it will never die

Which top-line LW UFA were you thinking of?
- jmatchett383

Not just thinking UFA. Thinking trade or UFA haven't really scoured what's out there but with the discussions so far about this roster make up I'm seeing that as the spot where any cap savings go.

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."
- hockeylover

http://cordellcordell.com/

haha I kid, I kid....that is funny

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.
- BiggE

I would bet that if the Flyers would clean up their defensive zone coverage and puck management. Mason's play would improve. It's symbiotic. I also think weak goals such as unscreened goals from the blueline that go in, deflates a team.

it will never die
- YuenglingJagr

It just seems silly. Sure, the quick fix is to sign a 40-goal (even 25 goal) scoring LW in free agency and stick him on the top line. But if there's no top-line LW available in free agency who doesn't want stupid money/term on the downside of his career, then it doesn't matter how much money you have available to spend on one. Patrick Sharp is probably the best out there, but he's already 35 and hasn't played all that well, when healthy, the past 3 years.

But if NJ buys out Taylor Hall and he hits the open market, then sure, go after him.

I would bet that if the Flyers would clean up their defensive zone coverage and puck management. Mason's play would improve. It's symbiotic. I also think weak goals such as unscreened goals from the blueline that go in, deflates a team.
- MJL

Yes, the team defense and goaltending go hand-in-hand. But Mason has had many more questionable goals (unscreened point shots, bad angle shots, shots that glance off the glove) this year, seemingly by a lot, than he has in year's past. To me, the type of goals he's allowing are just as maddening as the amount. Those weak goals deflate the team, leading to more high-danger scoring chances, leading to more goals, furthering deflating the team...

I would bet that if the Flyers would clean up their defensive zone coverage and puck management. Mason's play would improve. It's symbiotic. I also think weak goals such as unscreened goals from the blueline that go in, deflates a team.
- MJL

The circle of hockey life.

1) Turnover yields bad goalie play
2) bad goalie play yields more turnovers

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Teams of Your Heart
- bmeltzer

Bill, I felt the very same pain watching that 76 final game 4 as the Flyers were swept. Witnessing 2 cups win made me think this was easy. Losing in 76 sucked. in 1980 I was old enough to, like you, feel the anguish and rage over the blown calls. I knew had it gone to game 7 the Flyers win. I was watching in the Pocanos at my grandfather's cabin which meant I was watching a NY channel.

Saturday I got to skate on the ice before the Alumni practice. I didn't get a chance to say hi to Lindros as he smiled watching us play but in the middle of the scrimmage I saw Bob Clarke with that big smile and I just had to skate over and shake his hand. he was so nice. I felt like that little kid again watching my stanley cup Flyers. On the ice when some of the players came out I sought out Howe and shook his hand as well. It was pretty cool milling around on the ice with some of the alumni. they were so nice. Hockey players are the best.

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

He needs to take it back to the easy bake oven because he's getting burned near his own blue line and home plate far too often.

Earlier in the season I thought market value long term deals for Mason and Del Zotto were warranted. I was very wrong. I'd consider them at a short term bargain or they can test free agency.

If the team doesn't turn it around before early February I'm ready for Hextall to start the fire sale on the pending UFAs and inject this team with some youth the rest of the way. They need to see what they have in Laughton, Leier, Stolarz and Hagg. Morin and/or Sanheim would be a bonus but no rush with them.

"there were however, no tears"

I know what that means. You get older and mature I guess. Both a bad thing and a good thing all at the same time. Sometimes you wish you could go back to those younger days.
- MJL

sadly we also just become so immune to not winning. I mean, we may be disappointed, mad, whatever, but there are just so many season's of not winning it all that you just become immune

I was talking about this season with a friend of mine last last, and we're both in a state of apathy right now. It's just not worth getting mad over when, right or wrong, the team doesn't seem to have any emotion in their game right now. But he said one thing that did cheer me up: Within the next 6 months, we should have a clear picture of what's going on with our goalie situation moving forward.

http://cordellcordell.com/

haha I kid, I kid....that is funny
- YuenglingJagr

Thanks. I'll keep that link handy.

Bill, I felt the very same pain watching that 76 final game 4 as the Flyers were swept. Witnessing 2 cups win made me think this was easy. Losing in 76 sucked. in 1980 I was old enough to, like you, feel the anguish and rage over the blown calls. I knew had it gone to game 7 the Flyers win. I was watching in the Pocanos at my grandfather's cabin which meant I was watching a NY channel.

Saturday I got to skate on the ice before the Alumni practice. I didn't get a chance to say hi to Lindros as he smiled watching us play but in the middle of the scrimmage I saw Bob Clarke with that big smile and I just had to skate over and shake his hand. he was so nice. I felt like that little kid again watching my stanley cup Flyers. On the ice when some of the players came out I sought out Howe and shook his hand as well. It was pretty cool milling around on the ice with some of the alumni. they were so nice. Hockey players are the best.
- nastyflyergirl

Man oh man, was I one furious 14 year old kid in 1980. I would have murdered Leon Stickle if I could have got my hands on him back then. Thankfully, I've mellowed in my old age. If I ran into Stickle today, I'd just put him in a choke hold til he coughed up the cash to buy me a nice bottle of 30 year old Macallan.


Not sure if they would have taken game 7 in 1980 though, as much as it pains me to say it. Clarke has commented that they were really beat up and spent at that point and he didn't know if they would have enough left in the tank to win one more game. The home ice advantage for our boys was huge back then so they may have done it, but the Islanders team was just deeper and healthier than our squad.

I was talking about this season with a friend of mine last last, and we're both in a state of apathy right now. It's just not worth getting mad over when, right or wrong, the team doesn't seem to have any emotion in their game right now. But he said one thing that did cheer me up: Within the next 6 months, we should have a clear picture of what's going on with our goalie situation moving forward.
- jmatchett383

Clear picture, but doesn't necessarily mean the best. I am very excited for what will happen in June

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.
- jmatchett383

The thing that makes the Kane goal tolerable was the fact they wouldn't have won a game 7 in Chicago. That is at least what I tell myself.

To me, the toughest moment in Flyers history was the Stevens hit on Lindros. Essentially that prevented the Flyers from winning the Cup that year. They would have beat the Stars imo. Not to mention it ended Lindros' Flyers career.

I'm not old enough to remember the Leon Stickle non call in 1980. I will let others speak to that.

I wish Hak would bring out some films of the Flyers PP with Big Tim Kerr between the circles ripping a wrister upper corner. Would like to see Wayne Train in a similar spot sometime on the PP.

I would bet that if the Flyers would clean up their defensive zone coverage and puck management. Mason's play would improve. It's symbiotic. I also think weak goals such as unscreened goals from the blueline that go in, deflates a team.
- MJL

I agree. However, I also think it is deflating to the goalie to have to cover for mistakes and lack of back checking on a constant basis.

Great write up Bill.
Could close my eyes and suffer all of those same tears all over again too.
I still see the Islanders offsides and the Oilers in nightmares so many years later.

Yes, the team defense and goaltending go hand-in-hand. But Mason has had many more questionable goals (unscreened point shots, bad angle shots, shots that glance off the glove) this year, seemingly by a lot, than he has in year's past. To me, the type of goals he's allowing are just as maddening as the amount. Those weak goals deflate the team, leading to more high-danger scoring chances, leading to more goals, furthering deflating the team...
- jmatchett383

I agree he has let in more, but I personally think the mental wear of having to stand on your head constantly can wear on a player mentally. He doesn't just have to play well and technically sound every game. He has to be the savior.

The thing that makes the Kane goal tolerable was the fact they wouldn't have won a game 7 in Chicago. That is at least what I tell myself.

To me, the toughest moment in Flyers history was the Stevens hit on Lindros. Essentially that prevented the Flyers from winning the Cup that year. They would have beat the Stars imo. Not to mention it ended Lindros' Flyers career.

I'm not old enough to have a good to remember the Leon Stickle non call in 1980. I will let others speak to that.
- PLindbergh31

Same for me. That was awful. I almost had tears when that happened.

sadly we also just become so immune to not winning. I mean, we may be disappointed, mad, whatever, but there are just so many season's of not winning it all that you just become immune
- nastyflyergirl

It's not that for me, I think I've just gotten older, and have more going on now then when I was younger. My main priorities are in a different place.