Steve Mason Projections

[Chico Resch]

Hola,

We see Dobber forecasts Steve Mason to pull off 33 wins and 5 shutouts next year. A quality bounce back. Most people expect to see a turnaround.

I'm thinking of trading for him. What does everyone else see for

Wins
Shutouts
SV %
GAA?

Thanks all,

[rainydrinkwater]

W-35
s-3
sv%-.915
gaa-2.50

[NYR9394]

30 Wins
2.55 GAA
.907 Sv%
4 Shutouts


Not bad, but not great.

[vangregs]

33 - 38 W's
.910 SV %
2.65 gaa
5 SO

[Instant Karma]

I don't have access to my dartboard right now so I won't offer projections, but I also expect Mason to bounce back next year, but not to the level of his rookie campaign.

[Czechline]

but I also expect Mason to bounce back next year, but not to the level of his rookie campaign.

I don't know if he'll ever get back there (re: his periferal #s) under this new system. Hitch was just as responsible for those #s as Mason.

Too bad to, he saved my season 2 years ago, so I have some affinity for him.

30-35 Wins
3-4 SO
2.6ish GAA
.914-.917 Sv%

[wizworm]

With Hitch gone Mason should rebound (which sounds really odd considering Hitch was a defensive coach which should help goaltenders). Biggest reason Mason sucked last year was he was unhappy and pouting. He should be better this year under Arniel, just as he improved last year after Hitch was let go. Keep in mind Columbus still has sub-par D so he's going to see a lot of shots/goals.

W - 38
SO - 4
GAA - 2.90
SV% - .910

Reasoning? Arneil will play a more open-offense system than Hitch. Given their D, Mason will see more shots and they will be better scoring oppurtunities and his GAA is going to suffer again (but be better than last year). His overall SV% should rise a bit just based on the number of shots he's taking but I still don't see really great numbers for him. He'll get his wins because Columbus will give him every oppurtunity to rebound (and don't want to upset him and make him pout again).

It will be a rebound year but only in the sense he isn't as terrible as he was at the start of last year. He won't post his rookie season numbers again. The books out on him.

[jimmy whispers]

The books out on him? That's a pretty illogical statement.

He's 22 years old (which is EXTRA young for goalies), he still has a lot more to show us. That's younger than I am and I still consider myself to be improving in my game, haha. Mason has far from peaked. 10 shutouts again? probably not, but he had all of the stars aligned for a few of them.

He's a goalie that has been a top performer at every level he's every played, and when he's confident he oozes skill and control. In 3 years when the Blue Jackets have Nash, Voracek, Filatov are all firing on all cylinders together, and Russell and Stralman mature to potent threats, and assuming they can find some stand-up d, the Blue Jackets are going to be a good team. I would not be surprised if he has a few 40 win seasons, and 5+ shutouts regularly. the kid is very talented.

[wizworm]

The books out on him? That's a pretty illogical statement.

Gotta disagree with you there. Mason put up great numbers in his 1st year but by late season and playoffs, "the book" was out on him. His play suffered down the streach and Detroit took advantage of his weakeness in their playoff sweep. The fact some of those tendancies/weaknesses were more known leauge round during his 2nd tour of duty helps to explain his poor season.

Mason has the tools to be a great goalie. But he has weaknesses and they were exploited a couple years ago in the playoffs and last year during the regular season when teams had scouted him enough to build a "book" on him. He came into the leauge as an unkown and put up great numbers under a Hitch team that played D but once teams figured out Mason's weaknesses they explotited them.

The "book" IS out on him. If he improves in those areas (and he should), he'll be a good goalie again at some point. His problems right now aren't necessarily reflexes or athletisim, but positioning, anticipation and focus.

[jimmy whispers]

Ah. I might have misunderstood your expression then. Generally I think that "the books out on him" means that what you've seen is what you've got, all opinions can be formed and he will not be getting any better than he is now and nor should you expect or wait for more.
I'm assuming the analogy you make by saying "the books out on him" is referring to the equivalent of like, a playbook? Because I definitely agree with that. Teams have found his weaknesses, and it really showed. But, if you meant the former, than I have to disagree

But, as far as teams seeing his weaknesses, that can also be said about every single goalie in the entire NHL after they play a season or two. So I don't think it makes him any less valuable or impedes his potential for stardom whatsoever (which isn't as clear-cut as it was, but it's definitely there).

[rtstr]

i tend to agree. I have Mason on one of my youngster keeper teams and am fully confident that when my squad blossoms in 3 years he'll be a legit 35+ win 5+ shutout sure thing.

[wizworm]

I'm assuming the analogy you make by saying "the books out on him" is referring to the equivalent of like, a playbook? Because I definitely agree with that.

Yeah, that's all I meant by that.