Steve Mason - turned another corner?

[pmkidd]

I'm really thinkink about keeping Mason. In my league he finished top 10 in pts this year. flyers started really bad and was splitting time with Emery early on. so if he plays a little better this year coming up he will have good pts. Also Mason is still younger then most other goalies and is not in goalie prime age.

[Shiva Blaster]

Another huge performance by Mason tonight....

[mister_mcgoo]

he's just too streaky...when he's on he's dynamite, but when he's not, he's awful

[Top_Shelf]

Another huge performance by Mason tonight....

Which followed another horrible performance the night before

Mason was great tonight, but he needs to do it consistently.

[Carter]

I have a feeling Mason will often make you want to draft him, trade for him, own him etc etc. He will give you that shiny ray of faith only to eventually let you down. This may not make sense, but I relate to Gaborik in a way.

Mason will wine and dine you then fade much like Gaborik has done. The difference is Gaborik's issues were with injuries. Mason's issues will be with lack of consistentcy.

Mason is on a nice run but it's been a long while prior to this year where you can have any kind of sustained confidence in him. He may win Game 7, I do not feel he will, but he may. Regardless of what he does the rest of this playoff season, I am very leary of him going into next season. Maybe he has turned the corner, or maybe it's just a hot run and he returns to his old form sooner rather than later?

This summer my guess owners will be looking to trade him high in leagues, other will be looking to buy low on him. He may end up being the most traded player in fantasy during the summer months in fantasy leagues.

For me, I need to see more consistency.

Mason won the game for Philly last night. If the Flyers win the series, we'll look back to this turning point I think. 37 saves, 38 shots. We can all agree that none of us are comfortable with considering Mason a top 10 goalie. Or even a Top 15 goalie.

But does this change if he muscles them into the second round?

I was surprised at the outcome today, I must admit. Little faith. But good for him

[arctic_rogue]

In terms of GAA and S% he was average at best, and often worse than that from December onward, which makes him somewhat of a painful own in leagues where those stats are important. That said, he's my #2 by default, and goalies are damn near impossible to acquire in this league without sending one back the other way, so he's definitely a keeper for me.

The statement "from December onward" isn't entirely accurate. He did struggle for a bit, but here are the actual month by month numbers:

Oct - 2.25 .928
Nov - 1.82 .940
Dec - 2.92 .899
Jan - 3.28 .889
Feb - 1.91 .938
Mar - 2.48 .917
Apr - 1.93 .935

There is no pattern of poor performance from December onward. In fact, if one were to overlook Dec and Jan, he looks to be quite the asset.

[rainydrinkwater]

...I'm gonna need a bigger sample size with more consistency over his starts for me to be convinced...

[The Comish]

...I'm gonna need a bigger sample size with more consistency over his starts for me to be convinced...

I'm convinced. His game tonight was icing on the cake.

[Shake]

Believe my friends, believe!

[hockeypoolfanatic]

I'm convinced. His game tonight was icing on the cake.

Totally agree. I always thought Mason got sh*t on way too much. Anyone who is not a believer could not have watched games 6 and 7. He was straight up dominant. Silly good. So many timely saves. I don't follow the "small sample size" theory. It's different when you're talking about the playoffs. As mentioned before, take away December and January and he was consistently putting up solid numbers this season. I think the Olympic break threw him off his game and it took him a bit to get back his mojo. He is the only reason there even was a game 7.

He's only 25, still a few years away from the goalie prime years, on a strong Philly team. Easily top 15, no question. They signed him for 3 more years and have full confidence in him. He's the guy. And I personally am liking what I see. Go get him if you can.

[Shiva Blaster]

For once, a goaltending meltdown was not the reason for the Flyers' demise........fantastic game for Mason today, he deserved a better fate. As an owner, his show of mental fortitude in the playoffs has really solidified his keeper status on my team.

[hockeymanG23]

Mason seems to have his Calder confidence again. (Aside from the ridiculous SO's)

He allowed a few goals against from a few ugly GA in game 5 as a result of bad turnovers, but I don't think that there were any losses that could be pinned on Mason. He was an absolute STUD in every game he played.

Aside from some defensive gaffs in front of him the only goals he allowed all series were off of sick plays as far as I remember. Really, did he let in any uglies as a result of his own bad play?

PS where is Shawnee Panthers to gloat about one Mr Steve Mason?