Bill Meltzer: Wrapup: Tampa Blanks Flyers, 3-0

Today @ 4:38 PM ET
My question for the "future is bright" brigade is who is the goalie next year? When the answer to that question is no clue, no such thing as the future is bright. Would be nice to have Bobrosky now wouldn't it?
- PLindbergh31


The starting goalie market is next to non existent unless you're willing to overpay which would only open another hole on the roster or have to give up multiple 1st rounders. I still think the defense is the bigger problem then goaltending despite Mason's early seasons gaffs. Carter Hart is our next big hope and he's at least 3 years away probably more


Carried over from last blog

The only UFA goalie will be Bishop... he'll probably fetch massive $$ and term.

Not sure that's the way to go. Fortunately, Mason's playing himself into a nice pay reduction!

The only UFA goalie will be Bishop... he'll probably fetch massive $$ and term.

Not sure that's the way to go. Fortunately, Mason's playing himself into a nice pay reduction!
- fishbulb

I think you're looking at somewhere between 6.8 and 7.5 for Bishop. Not worth it imo

The only UFA goalie will be Bishop... he'll probably fetch massive $$ and term.

Not sure that's the way to go. Fortunately, Mason's playing himself into a nice pay reduction!
- fishbulb

Mason's play in my opinion is trending up. I have full faith in Mason moving forward. Flyers need to continue to get better, and make adjustments to the roster. They are currently dragging the wheels at .500, and there are a number of issues with their current play. Most of which can be corrected internally.

Mason's play in my opinion is trending up. I have full faith in Mason moving forward. Flyers need to continue to get better, and make adjustments to the roster. They are currently dragging the wheels at .500, and there are a number of issues with their current play. Most of which can be corrected internally.
- MJL

I'm not sure there was much way to trend any further downwards... but yes, he's played 'better' as of late. I don't think he's our future though, at least I hope not.

I'm not sure there was much way to trend any further downwards... but yes, he's played 'better' as of late. I don't think he's our future though, at least I hope not.
- fishbulb

Why hope he's not? Why not hope that he is? I think you can win with Mason. None of the young goaltenders are a guarantee. I've always felt that defense and goaltending go hand in hand. One effects the other. Goalies have to stop letting in weak goals, and the team defense has to improve and get better. When and if those two areas collide, then we'll have a better idea.

Why hope he's not? Why not hope that he is? I think you can win with Mason. None of the young goaltenders are a guarantee. I've always felt that defense and goaltending go hand in hand. One effects the other. Goalies have to stop letting in weak goals, and the team defense has to improve and get better. When and if those two areas collide, then we'll have a better idea.
- MJL

Totally agree.

I think you're looking at somewhere between 6.8 and 7.5 for Bishop. Not worth it imo
- Mordecai

And a long term deal (maybe)

Wasn't as bad as the score, but if Flyers fans played a drinking game in which every time JJ said "shot goes wide" you take a drink, we'd all be embalmed by the 1st intermission

I know we were patiently waiting the return of MDZ, but yeesh what a disappointment. That 2nd Tampa Bay goal he was

And a long term deal (maybe)
- ob18

I'm thinking at least 5-6 years. If he wins a cup, might get 8x8

Gotta love when goalies are the focus after a shutout.

The backup goalie is always head over heels against the Flyers

Vaselevski is the real deal though. only a matter of time until he's the starter/stud.

I didnt see the game - how did Ghost look out there? Any noticeable improvement???

Why hope he's not? Why not hope that he is? I think you can win with Mason. None of the young goaltenders are a guarantee. I've always felt that defense and goaltending go hand in hand. One effects the other. Goalies have to stop letting in weak goals, and the team defense has to improve and get better. When and if those two areas collide, then we'll have a better idea.
- MJL

I hope not b/c I don't trust Mason's mental toughness. I don't think Mason is a "chips down", "game 7" goalie. While he makes spectacular saves at times, he also seems to let in a TON of momentum sappers. And not just this year. Heck, didn't he lose his starting job last post-season due to some mental breakdowns? ie) a red line whiff?

He's a poor man's Fleury imo.

I didnt see the game - how did Ghost look out there? Any noticeable improvement???
- WhirlingDervish

He def. made some nice 'keep ins' at the blueline to keep the PP in the zone.

Bundy seemed to think he was keeping his game more simple and trying more high percentage shots.

MDZ looked more like a 2nd year player than him for sure.

I hope not b/c I don't trust Mason's mental toughness. I don't think Mason is a "chips down", "game 7" goalie. While he makes spectacular saves at times, he also seems to let in a TON of momentum sappers. And not just this year. Heck, didn't he lose his starting job last post-season due to some mental breakdowns? ie) a red line whiff?

He's a poor man's Fleury imo.
- fishbulb

The guy has battled through a lot of ups and downs, especially when he was younger in Columbus. That's a testament to his mental toughness. He's also carried this team on his back in recent seasons.

The guy has battled through a lot of ups and downs, especially when he was younger in Columbus. That's a testament to his mental toughness. He's also carried this team on his back in recent seasons.
- MJL

My problem IS his ups and downs... Columbus didn't handle him well, I think we can all agree with that, but I think a lot of these ups and downs are due to his mental makeup. Battle away, but consider me a non-believer until he shows more consistency to his game.

My problem IS his ups and downs... Columbus didn't handle him well, I think we can all agree with that, but I think a lot of these ups and downs are due to his mental makeup. Battle away, but consider me a non-believer until he shows more consistency to his game.
- fishbulb

Question - this far into his career is it possible he just doesn't have "it", whatever that is.

The guy has battled through a lot of ups and downs, especially when he was younger in Columbus. That's a testament to his mental toughness. He's also carried this team on his back in recent seasons.
- MJL

Barring the personal issue he dealt with early last season which deserves complete absolution, his Flyers career has ONLY been ups. 3 years of it. Until his first 6 weeks this season. I think he has earned a mulligan. And lo and behold, it seems he has come around the last week. One 3-0 loss, where he didn't let in anything easy, doesn't change that.

Fact is always the same: people have the long term memories of a fly when it comes to our key players. They'll ignore years of success for a bad month or two.

I hope not b/c I don't trust Mason's mental toughness. I don't think Mason is a "chips down", "game 7" goalie. While he makes spectacular saves at times, he also seems to let in a TON of momentum sappers. And not just this year. Heck, didn't he lose his starting job last post-season due to some mental breakdowns? ie) a red line whiff?

He's a poor man's Fleury imo.
- fishbulb

He seemed to manage Game 7 against a far superior Rangers team just fine. In fact, he was the best player on the ice for either team. The 2-1 loss could easily have been an 8-0 loss.

As for the red line whiff, stuff happens.

Tony Esposito let in a 100-foot goal in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final that turned the deciding game around 180 degrees with Chicago leading 2-0 at the time the Jacques Lemaire goal was scored in the second period.

Bernie Parent let in a 120-foot third period goal in a tied game that knocked the Flyers out of the playoffs on the final day of the RS. Also, prior to 1974, he'd never won a single playoff series at the pro level.

Martin Brodeur let in one of the worst goals in Stanley Cup Finals history in 2003.

Not comparing Mason to those HHOF goalies by any means except to say that strange things can happen to any goalie at the most inopportune of times, and it does not in and of itself reflect anything other than a fluke play at a bad time.

Barring the personal issue he dealt with early last season which deserves complete absolution, his Flyers career has ONLY been ups. 3 years of it. Until his first 6 weeks this season. I think he has earned a mulligan. And lo and behold, it seems he has come around the last week. One 3-0 loss, where he didn't let in anything easy, doesn't change that.

Fact is always the same: people have the long term memories of a fly when it comes to our key players. They'll ignore years of success for a bad month or two.
- Mononoke

Exactly.... same type of fans who turned on Eric Desjardins when he deigned to struggle while trying to play through an 80% ACL tear(!).

Guys, of the 20 people who post here, 8 of them are 2real

Guys, of the 20 people who post here, 8 of them are 2real
- PhillySportsGuy

This is believable, at the very least