It's the most comfortable I've felt about the goal tending going into a season in a long time. Emery surprised how well he played before injuries derailed the season, but he was still a question mark coming in. I guess we maybe knew what we were getting with Biron… but we know we're getting better with Mason. It's nice for a change
- eayost

Yup. If anything, our goaltending is the one area of the team I'm confident is capable of making a run at the cup. Our O and D both have some concerns and room for improvement.

I like JR. He unabashedly speaks his mind, for better or worse.

That said, at this time, I agree with his general assessment of Mason. Sure, he was very good last season. Does that make him upper echelon? No. But that's not an insult or a put-down. Put together a couple more seasons like that and we'll talk. Do I think he can do it? Sure, why not? He's young and seems to be a good learner. Time will tell. I'll be rooting for him to get there.

Regarding his comment about defense, he's right again, imho. Imho, that's the bigger issue with this team, not goaltending. Ultimately this team will only go as far as the defense (and team defense in general) take it.
- Scoob

I agree with the defense issue. However I would categorize the biggest issue with this team, which is a big issue, I'd its overrall level of play at 5 vs 5. I think the concerns of team defense are right up there with my concerns of the team being able to sustain consistent 5v5 pressure. It all coincides of course, it's of my opinion that they can't reach contender status with the roster as presently constructed, but I'm ok with that in realizing that hextall has a long term vision

This team was carried by its special teams, goaltending, and excellent health last year. Im glad that hextall is focusing on making this team deeper and stronger at even strength. They really need to be

I don't know why, but I thought I had read that Ted Harris had passed away some time ago. I'm glad I was wrong.

If he owned a hardware store in New Jersey, did he settle there after his stint as coach of the North Stars?

I think he may be the only guy that can beat Larry Csonka for the most crooked nose in all of professional sports.


I would put Lindbergh's season above Hextall's primarily because it was his performance that drove the confidence of a very young team. Going into that season, the expectation was that the team, at best, would be a play-off bubble team. Going into the 86-87 season, the Flyers had finished the previous year 2nd in the league with 110 points.

Kings assistant Stevens brings Cup to Jersey Shore

When Los Angeles Kings assistant coach John Stevens had his day with the Stanley Cup in 2012, he took it home to Ontario. Thursday, he brought it to his other home near the beaches of New Jersey, where he spent almost two decades as a player and coach in the Philadelphia Flyers organization

http://www.nhl.com/ice/blogpost.htm?id=30691&navid=DL|NHL|home

I don't know why, but I thought I had read that Ted Harris had passed away some time ago. I'm glad I was wrong.

If he owned a hardware store in New Jersey, did he settle there after his stint as coach of the North Stars?

I think he may be the only guy that can beat Larry Csonka for the most crooked nose in all of professional sports.


I would put Lindbergh's season above Hextall's primarily because it was his performance that drove the confidence of a very young team. Going into that season, the expectation was that the team, at best, would be a play-off bubble team. Going into the 86-87 season, the Flyers had finished the previous year 2nd in the league with 110 points.
- GeorgeBailey

It was very close, but Hextall's 87 playoff run gave him the slight edge IMO

1) Quick
2) Lundqvist
3) Rask
4) Price
5) Rinne
6) Varlamov
7) Bishop
8) BOB
9) Crawford
10) Mason
11) Smith
12) Lehtonen
13) Anderson
14) Howard
15) Bernier

I am more than happy with, in my opinion, the 10th best goalie in the league. Mason has been a beast since we acquired him, he will continue his strong play and I have no worries about him. The top pairing d-man and 1LW position are areas Hextall will need to address in the coming year or two.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Mason, Roenick, Quick Hits
- bmeltzer

There really is nothing to pick apart here. JR is just wrong. For a guy who's never won a Cup himself might have jinxed himself and put us much closer to a Cup.

1) Quick
2) Lundqvist
3) Rask
4) Price
5) Rinne
6) Varlamov
7) Bishop
8) BOB
9) Crawford
10) Mason
11) Smith
12) Lehtonen
13) Anderson
14) Howard
15) Bernier

I am more than happy with, in my opinion, the 10th best goalie in the league. Mason has been a beast since we acquired him, he will continue his strong play and I have no worries about him. The top pairing d-man and 1LW position are areas Hextall will need to address in the coming year or two.
- Rocktane

I actually think Bernier is better then Mason. Bernier just doesn't have a defense in front of him. I also believe Cory Schneider who's not even on the list is better than Mason. Ryan Miller and Roberto Luongo are also better than Mason even at this stage of their careers.

While I do believe Mason is better then Crawford because Crawford benefits from a great team in front of him, I wouldn't say Mason is top ten right now. Not yet that is.

My top 10 list for the day: The 10 best goaltender seasons in Flyers history!!

Lets keep the suspense, by starting with guys that just missed the cut.
Bob Froese 85-86 - Frosty did a remarkable job under incredibly difficult circumstances that year.

Roman Cechmanek 01-02 - 2.05 gaa, 1.86 in the playoffs, not too shabby!

John Vanbiesbrouck 98-99 - Folks remember the one softie he gave up in the playoffs, however they forget that he finished the postseason with a gaa of 1.46 and a sv% of .938!!

Ilya Bryzgalov 11-12 - He was damn good that year, live with it haters!

10. Steve Mason 13-14
2.50 and .917 along with 33 wins. His playoff numbers of 1.97 and .937 were fantastic. I have no doubt that he is the real deal, no matter what JR thinks!

9. Martin Biron 07-08
Took a team that had finished dead last the previous season to the 3rd round in the playoffs. His numbers of 2.59 and .918 were very impressive.

8. Brian Boucher 99-00
The rookie finished with a gaa of 1.91 and a sv% of .918, he also backstopped the Flyers to the 3rd round in the playoffs as well and made one of the great saves of all time against Elias in that last series.

7. Cechmanek 00-01
Yeah, the playoffs were a mess, but you just can't ignore numbers like 2.01, .921, 10 shutouts and 35 wins.

6. Pete Peeters 79-80
All this rookie did was help this team go 35 games without a loss on his way to winning 29 of his 39 starts. He also helped them get to the finals with an 8-5 record in the postseason

5. Cechmanek 02-03
Yeah, he was a headcase too, but man what a year he had! 1.83, .925, 6 shutouts, 33 wins and he backstopped them to their first playoff round win since the 99-00 season that year.

4. Pelle Lindbergh 84-85
Ahh, what might have been... His gaa and sv % were nothing by today's standards but were amazing for his era. More importantly he led the team to the best record in the NHL with 40 wins and went 12-6 in the playoffs before bowing out in the finals due to injury. He capped off the season with a Vezina trophy too!

and now the top 3!!!

3. Ron Hextall 86-87
Talk about a rookie sensation!! Hextall did it all in 86-87, 37 wins and a Vezina trophy, followed by one of the great playoff runs in NHL history. He is one of the very few players to win the Conn Smythe trophy in a losing effort as he almost singlehandedly willed the Flyers to a cup. I can still hear his stick rattling off the post today!

2. Bernie Parent 74-75
Wow, 2.03 gaa, 12 shutouts, 44 wins, 1st team all star, Vezina trophy. He then went on to lead the team to their 2nd straight Stanley Cup and his 2nd straight Smythe trophy. How can you top this, you ask, well.....

1. Bernie Parent 73-74
Perhaps the greatest season by any goalie ever is how you top 74-75!! Gaa 1.89, 12 shutouts, 47 wins!! Good god, the man was unbeatable. Oh, and he was perhaps even better in the playoffs leading the Flyers to the Cup and winning his 1st Conn Smythe trophy too! This will forever be the season that all Flyer's goalies should aspire to!
- BiggE

This is awesome work. Even though I was a little piker then, I feel so fortunate to have seen the 73-74 and 74-75 season. Clarkie and Bernie were my childhood heroes.

BTW, if any of you are anywhere near Ventnor, NJ this Sunday night, my duo, Fake ID is playing Malelani Cafe in Ventnor from 6-9pm. Come on out!! Malelani is a cool BYOB, with great food and a really nice vibe!

Hope to see some of you there!

This is awesome work. Even though I was a little piker then, I feel so fortunate to have seen the 73-74 and 74-75 season. Clarkie and Bernie were my childhood heroes.
- Marc D

You and me both, Marc! I was 8 when they won the 1st cup!

This is awesome work.
- Marc D

Dude needs his own blog or something...

Grant Fuhr disagrees.
- Streit2ThePoint

It's an abomination I tell you and abomination!!!

Dude needs his own blog or something...
- Tomahawk

That would be too much like work

Is he truly left handed or does he just use the glove on his right?
- FlyersGrace

That I'm not sure of.

Kings assistant Stevens brings Cup to Jersey Shore



http://www.nhl.com/ice/blogpost.htm?id=30691&navid=DL|NHL|home
- wolfhounds

I know Stevens was not really loved here, but I like the guy and I think it's pretty cool he brought the Cup down to the shore.

That would be too much like work

- BiggE

Moonlight as a ghostwriter for Bill then.

That I'm not sure of.
- hockeylover

I'm a fellow wrong-hander. I saw him at the Left-Hander's Convention last year.

Moonlight as a ghostwriter for Bill then.
- Tomahawk

Few problems here. Henrik is not #1. Top 3.. I 'll give him that. Quick has earned #1

Smith is overrated on your list as well as Crawford.
Bob may need to slide down as well. He doesnt perform in the playoffs.....
- GOA88

If I need to win a Game 7, I'm going Quick.

If I need to win 1 regular season game, I'm going Lundqvist.

Both good goalies, but Quick is able to step up when it matters most. 1/2 interchangeable to me.

JR is the best, just ask him

I'm a fellow wrong-hander. I saw him at the Left-Hander's Convention last year.


- Streit2ThePoint

Ironically, I'm a lefty too.

Ironically, I'm a lefty too.
- hockeylover

HE'S A WITCH! BURN HIM!

HE'S A WITCH! BURN HIM!
- jmatchett383

Ironically, I'm a lefty too.
- hockeylover

same