Bill Meltzer: Flyers at Worlds Update, Musings on 2017-18 Goalie Plan

Have been waiting for this article. Thanks for the read. It was basically what I expected and aligns with how I have felt. To add what I have said for most of this season, I believe letting Mason walk will be the wrong decision. He could have some sort of contract demand with Neuvirth currently in place that would making parting ways the right decision, but on the surface it feels as though he is their best option for the near future.

I think he is the most talented option out there, and his reputation looks to make him a very good value. Letting him walk is a mistake, but the effect will be minimal with the incoming talent pool in goal.

Bill,
Great read.

Does Hart have another year of junior left or is he AHL eligible this year? That could be your AHL tandem with Lyon right there. Or another Labarberra/Zepp situation with Lyon and have Stolarz be the 1b in the NHL with someone.

Either way, it is an interesting situation. I think Mason is a fine goalie and letting him walk is a mistake, but...that seems to be the road they are on at this time.

Have been waiting for this article. Thanks for the read. It was basically what I expected and aligns with how I have felt. To add what I have said for most of this season, I believe letting Mason walk will be the wrong decision. He could have some sort of contract demand with Neuvirth currently in place that would making parting ways the right decision, but on the surface it feels as though he is their best option for the near future.

I think he is the most talented option out there, and his reputation looks to make him a very good value. Letting him walk is a mistake, but the effect will be minimal with the incoming talent pool in goal.


- YueglingJagr

I also feel that Mason is the best choice out there as a bridge to a young prospect developing to take the reigns in the future. There seems to be enough speculation though to show that Mason does not want to be part of a platoon situation or not willing to sign a short enough deal to the Flyers liking. This could very well backfire on the Flyers short term.

Have been waiting for this article. Thanks for the read. It was basically what I expected and aligns with how I have felt. To add what I have said for most of this season, I believe letting Mason walk will be the wrong decision. He could have some sort of contract demand with Neuvirth currently in place that would making parting ways the right decision, but on the surface it feels as though he is their best option for the near future.

I think he is the most talented option out there, and his reputation looks to make him a very good value. Letting him walk is a mistake, but the effect will be minimal with the incoming talent pool in goal.
- YuenglingJagr

The definition of a mediocre goaltender who never takes any blame but always has an excuse at the ready and has no problem blaming his teammates.

Time to move on.

I have always liked Mason since he came to the Flyers. I feel he is maybe a step below Bishop but definitely above the other UFA goalies on that list, including the unproven Darling.

Hate that he is most likely gone.

The definition of a mediocre goaltender who never takes any blame but always has an excuse at the ready and has no problem blaming his teammates.

Time to move on.
- LindsayCarson

Stating that Mason never took any personal blame is simply not true.

Stating that Mason never took any personal blame is simply not true.
- MJL

I'd love to see when he ever put the blame squarely on himself.

As for excuses, let's see....

His excuses have been: not getting enough shots during games; getting too many shots during games; the defense is screening him, the defense is not attacking the shooters (which could lead to them screening him); his back hurts (never proven); doesn't like the goalie coach; the goalie coach he likes the team got rid of; wants to be the number one goalie; playing long stretches of games as the number one goalie tired him out in the long run; the penalty killing is bad.

And my all time favorite Steve Mason excuse: The LED lights at the Wells Fargo center make it hard for him to see the puck.

#TeamMason

The definition of a mediocre goaltender who never takes any blame but always has an excuse at the ready and has no problem blaming his teammates.

Time to move on.
- LindsayCarson

Mason always took personal blame as appropriate and was honest. Offered outs such as "where you screened " on an iffy goal, he'd say no if he wasn't and "partially, but I picked it up and should have stopped it" if that was the case. If genuinely heavily screened, he'd say that.

I'd love to see when he ever put the blame squarely on himself.

As for excuses, let's see....

His excuses have been: not getting enough shots during games; getting too many shots during games; the defense is screening him, the defense is not attacking the shooters (which could lead to them screening him); his back hurts (never proven); doesn't like the goalie coach; the goalie coach he likes the team got rid of; wants to be the number one goalie; playing long stretches of games as the number one goalie tired him out in the long run; the penalty killing is bad.

And my all time favorite Steve Mason excuse: The LED lights at the Wells Fargo center make it hard for him to see the puck.
- LindsayCarson

First time caller, long time listener

Nevertheless, there were a few social media wisecracks from Dave Hakstol-bashing Flyers fans about Konency's ice time against France. Ignoring the actual game situations that unfolded in the third period, there were gripes that Team Canada assistant coach must have gotten into head coach Jon Cooper's ear to reduce Konecny's ice time on Thursday to the lowest on Canada apart from the tossed-from-the-game Skinner.

There are a bunch of weirdos out there who obsess over Konecny's reduced role at the end of his 19 year old season, and ignore the fact that he averaged a healthy 14 minutes under Hakstol and that his most common linemates were Voracek, Couturier, Simmonds and Schenn.

I'd love to see when he ever put the blame squarely on himself.

As for excuses, let's see....

His excuses have been: not getting enough shots during games; getting too many shots during games; the defense is screening him, the defense is not attacking the shooters (which could lead to them screening him); his back hurts (never proven); doesn't like the goalie coach; the goalie coach he likes the team got rid of; wants to be the number one goalie; playing long stretches of games as the number one goalie tired him out in the long run; the penalty killing is bad.

And my all time favorite Steve Mason excuse: The LED lights at the Wells Fargo center make it hard for him to see the puck.
- LindsayCarson

Bill,
Great read.

Does Hart have another year of junior left or is he AHL eligible this year? That could be your AHL tandem with Lyon right there. Or another Labarberra/Zepp situation with Lyon and have Stolarz be the 1b in the NHL with someone.

Either way, it is an interesting situation. I think Mason is a fine goalie and letting him walk is a mistake, but...that seems to be the road they are on at this time.
- wbon22

Hart has one more year of WHL to go. Not AHL eligible yet. Sandström just re-signed with his Swedish team for one more year.

I think the AHL tandem next season will either be Stolarz/Lyon again or else will be a guy like JB or Zepper in the years they were signed.

The definition of a mediocre goaltender who never takes any blame but always has an excuse at the ready and has no problem blaming his teammates.

Time to move on.
- LindsayCarson

The definition of a mediocre goaltender who never takes any blame but always has an excuse at the ready and has no problem blaming his teammates.

Time to move on.
- LindsayCarson

And here I thought you were finally warming up to him...

First time caller, long time listener
- Giroux_Is_God

Going into the season with Neuvirth and Stolarz/Lyon as the Flyers goalies doesn't seem like something Hextall would do. Stolarz has a year of waiver exemption left and Lyon has two, so for 17-18 it makes the most sense to have them battle for the starting job on the Phantoms again.

Signing a veteran like Bernier on a one year deal, and then reassessing the goalie situation in summer 2018 is what I hope he does. I don't think Mason or the team really want him back under that scenario.

I have always liked Mason since he came to the Flyers. I feel he is maybe a step below Bishop but definitely above the other UFA goalies on that list, including the unproven Darling.

Hate that he is most likely gone.
- aightwebang17

Save Percentage among NHL goaltenders in 2016-2017 with a minimum 1000 minutes:

9th) Scott Darling - 92.36% in 1688 Minutes
43rd) Ben Bishop - 90.95% in 2221 Minutes
46th) Steve Mason - 90.81% in 3224 Minutes
56th) Micheal Neuvirth - 89.08% in 1363 Minutes

Save Percentage among NHL goaltenders in 2016-2017 with a minimum 1000 minutes:

9th) Scott Darling - 92.36% in 1688 Minutes
43rd) Ben Bishop - 90.95% in 2221 Minutes
46th) Steve Mason - 90.81% in 3224 Minutes
56th) Micheal Neuvirth - 89.08% in 1363 Minutes
- BINGO!

Point taken...trade for Darling

Going into the season with Neuvirth and Stolarz/Lyon as the Flyers goalies doesn't seem like something Hextall would do. Stolarz has a year of waiver exemption left and Lyon has two, so for 17-18 it makes the most sense to have them battle for the starting job on the Phantoms again.

Signing a veteran like Bernier on a one year deal, and then reassessing the goalie situation in summer 2018 is what I hope he does. I don't think Mason or the team really want him back under that scenario.
- Feanor

Where the hell did you come up with that idea?

I agree with the scouts who say he is soft. I have been saying for years that he is mentally weak. Addition by subtraction.....

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.

Much like his scratchings of skilled youngsters and a sick obsession with turds - the goalie management has been quite questionable. He needs to improve on that.

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, the number one reason for keeping Mason, quite frankly, is that he's played well far more often than not during his time in Philly both by statistical measures and the eye test.