I'm doubling down. Instead of $1, I'm putting $2 on Bernier being the guy.

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I'm doubling down. Instead of $1, I'm putting $2 on Bernier being the guy.
- fls13

Mason has been damn good in his time with the Flyers. This should be an easy decision that should have been dealt with earlier in the year instead of letting it go for so long.

That Neuvirth contract is asinine to begin with

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First time caller, long time listener
- Giroux_Is_God

HAHA my thoughts exactly.

Great stuff as always, Bill. My gut feeling is that one of the following happen in regards to the goalies. I've ranked them from most to least likely:

1. Neuvirth stays, and the Flyers sign Bernier to a 1 or 2 year deal

2. Neuvirth stays, and the Flyers sign Ryan Miller to a 1 or 2 year deal

3. Neuvirth is dealt and the Flyers re-sign Mason and bring in a generic NHL backup to compete with Stolarz for the backup spot.

4. Neuvirth stays and the Flyers sign a guy like Chad Johnson or Brian Elliot for the other spot

5. Neuvirth stays, and the Flyers also re-sign Mason who doesn't get any better offers anywhere else

6. Neuvirth stays, and the Flyers trade for Halak from the Isles to be the other guy

7. Neuvirth stays, the Stars can't get Bishop signed or he's just not interested in signing with them, they deal his rights to us and we sign Bishop to be the starter with Neuvy as the clear cut backup.

8. Neuvirth stays, and the Flyers bring in a veteran backup to compete with Stolarz for the other spot.

9. Neuvirth stays, the Pens deal Fleury prior to the ED, and that team deals Fleury to the Flyers to be our new starter with Neuvy as the backup.

10. None of the above

Mason has been damn good in his time with the Flyers. This should be an easy decision that should have been dealt with earlier in the year instead of letting it go for so long.
- flyer_nutter

Imho it's clear that there is something(s) non-hockey related that have created friction in this relationship.

Mason has been damn good in his time with the Flyers. This should be an easy decision that should have been dealt with earlier in the year instead of letting it go for so long.

That Neuvirth contract is asinine to begin with
- flyer_nutter

I don't quite understand the logic on the Neuvirth deal. Hextall seemed convinced he'll bounce back. After the season breakup, I was convinced Mason won't be back. Mr. Meltzer has the same read I do. Even if he was privy to some behind the scenes dope, which he said he's not, I do think he'd be hearing the Flyers wan't to get Mason done. Hell, Hextall is saying that quite openly about Weal who's also UFA.

Great stuff as always, Bill. My gut feeling is that one of the following happen in regards to the goalies. I've ranked them from most to least likely:

1. Neuvirth stays, and the Flyers sign Bernier to a 1 or 2 year deal

2. Neuvirth stays, and the Flyers sign Ryan Miller to a 1 or 2 year deal

3. Neuvirth is dealt and the Flyers re-sign Mason and bring in a generic NHL backup to compete with Stolarz for the backup spot.

4. Neuvirth stays and the Flyers sign a guy like Chad Johnson or Brian Elliot for the other spot

5. Neuvirth stays, and the Flyers also re-sign Mason who doesn't get any better offers anywhere else

6. Neuvirth stays, and the Flyers trade for Halak from the Isles to be the other guy

7. Neuvirth stays, the Stars can't get Bishop signed or he's just not interested in signing with them, they deal his rights to us and we sign Bishop to be the starter with Neuvy as the clear cut backup.

8. Neuvirth stays, and the Flyers bring in a veteran backup to compete with Stolarz for the other spot.

9. Neuvirth stays, the Pens deal Fleury prior to the ED, and that team deals Fleury to the Flyers to be our new starter with Neuvy as the backup.

10. None of the above
- BiggE

I wonder how many goalies will want to sign here with a 2.5 million dollar backup and no clear cut idea of who is the #1?

First time caller, long time listener
- Giroux_Is_God

Great article about Mason! I wish people appreciated him more than they do. Only 7 goalies in the league that have played as many or more games than Mason since 2013-14 have a higher save %. Pretty telling how solid he has been for the team since they acquired him. It's not like he's had a stellar defense in front of him for most of his tenure either. I sure hope letting him walk doesn't backfire, but I'm not so sure it won't

I wonder how many goalies will want to sign here with a 2.5 million dollar backup and no clear cut idea of who is the #1?
- MBFlyerfan

I can't speak for Hexy, but he may be hoping that whomever they bring in, is willing to battle for the #1 spot and isn't going to be paid any more than Neuvirth.

Great article about Mason! I wish people appreciated him more than they do. Only 7 goalies in the league that have played as many or more games than Mason since 2013-14 have a higher save %. Pretty telling how solid he has been for the team since they acquired him. It's not like he's had a stellar defense in front of him for most of his tenure either. I sure hope letting him walk doesn't backfire, but I'm not so sure it won't
- aantny88

It's only a vibe of course, but I'd bet my ass Hak doesn't wasn't him back.

I wonder how many goalies will want to sign here with a 2.5 million dollar backup and no clear cut idea of who is the #1?
- MBFlyerfan

I could see Bernier or Miller perhaps having interest.

Bernier has limited leverage and needs a chance to once and for all establish himself as a starter. It's not like the guy he'll be competing against has been signed to a long term big money deal, and pretty sure he can feel confident that if the Flyers were willing to often let Steve Mason at 4.1 million ride the bench, they will do the same to Neuvirth at 2.5 million if he is beaten out.

Miller is getting up there in age and I doubt he neither expects, nor wants, to be playing 60-65 games per season anymore. I think he'd be fine with a 50-55/27-32 split and with that in mind, I don't think he'd be bothered by Neuvirth or his contract whatsoever.

Also, I'd very much doubt a guy like Halak who was the 3rd wheel with the Isles last year would have any problem either.

I wonder how many goalies will want to sign here with a 2.5 million dollar backup and no clear cut idea of who is the #1?
- MBFlyerfan

Bill, a lot of your arguments for Steve Mason sound an awful lot like the arguments made for keeping Cam Ward all these years.

"It's the defense."

"He was amazing and held us in it for those 10-15 games this year."

"With a better team in front of him/back-up pushing him his numbers will improve."

Canes fans have been fed these same reasons from the organization for a decade and with the exception of a single year, it's never gotten better.
- BINGO!

Cam Ward has a .906 SV% over the past four years. That's 42nd out of 43 goalies with 100+ games played.

http://www.nhl.com/stats/...yed,gte,100&sort=savePctg

It's only a vibe of course, but I'd bet my ass Hak doesn't wasn't him back.
- flyer_nutter

I'm with you on that one. For whatever reason, when both were healthy, he clearly seemed to favor Neuvirth. It was never more apparent, at least to me, when he gave Neuvirth the opening start last season, after Mason had the better preseason.

Cam Ward has a .906 SV% over the past four years. That's 42nd out of 43 goalies with 100+ games played.

http://www.nhl.com/stats/...yed,gte,100&sort=savePctg
- Feanor

Yep.

He (frank)ing blows.

I could see Bernier or Miller perhaps having interest.

Bernier has limited leverage and needs a chance to once and for all establish himself as a starter. It's not like the guy he'll be competing against has been signed to a long term big money deal, and pretty sure he can feel confident that if the Flyers were willing to often let Steve Mason at 4.1 million ride the bench, they will do the same to Neuvirth at 2.5 million if he is beaten out.

Miller is getting up there in age and I doubt he neither expects, nor wants, to be playing 60-65 games per season anymore. I think he'd be fine with a 50-55/27-32 split and with that in mind, I don't think he'd be bothered by Neuvirth or his contract whatsoever.

Also, I'd very much doubt a guy like Halak who was the 3rd wheel with the Isles last year would have any problem either.
- BiggE

All of these depend on what the contract is. Neuvirth getting 2.5 already throws the whole thing out of whack unless these guys are willing to come in under 4 mil. Out of all of them I only see that maybe being Halak.

But then again I could just be misreading the market.

With Bishop and Darling both off the market, what are some teams that would have interest in signing Mason? I just feel the list is short because most teams have their goalie situation figured out.

All of these depend on what the contract is. Neuvirth getting 2.5 already throws the whole thing out of whack unless these guys are willing to come in under 4 mil. Out of all of them I only see that maybe being Halak.

But then again I could just be misreading the market.
- MBFlyerfan

Bernier is making about what Mason is, $4M and change. I don't know that either guy can really expect a huge raise, especially as two teams who were in the market already made moves and took prime candidates off the July 1 shopping list.

I'm with you on that one. For whatever reason, when both were healthy, he clearly seemed to favor Neuvirth. It was never more apparent, at least to me, when he gave Neuvirth the opening start last season, after Mason had the better preseason.
- BiggE

This

Bill, a lot of your arguments for Steve Mason sound an awful lot like the arguments made for keeping Cam Ward all these years.

"It's the defense."

"He was amazing and held us in it for those 10-15 games this year."

"With a better team in front of him/back-up pushing him his numbers will improve."

Canes fans have been fed these same reasons from the organization for a decade and with the exception of a single year, it's never gotten better.
- BINGO!

Well, other than the fact that Mason has been good and Ward hasn't. I would agree.

I don't think the first two have ever been excuses used for Steve Mason. I think, if anything, they are used when comparing him to someone like Ben Bishop. For most of Mason's Flyers career he has been one of their best and most consistent players.

I won't call myself a Cam Ward expert, but I have watched him a good amount. To my eye, the types of errors he made were unlike those that Mason makes.

With Bishop and Darling both off the market, what are some teams that would have interest in signing Mason? I just feel the list is short because most teams have their goalie situation figured out.
- arichardson22

A certain team from Alberta

Said it several times and I will say it several more. Jaroslav Halak is the perfect goalie for the Flyers next season