Mason is a brick house
- vejim

Wait a minute... he didnt win the Vezina playing behind one of the best defensive teams in the league so hes obviously not good enough.

Looks like Leier's shaping up to be Eric Wellwood +
- Tomahawk

Leier will hopefully be a solid role player for us.

I imagine a larger sample size may help
- PhillySportsGuy

It's my biggest issue with stats analysis and goaltenders. There are some stats guys feel that goaltending is independent of defense. They look at a guy like Mason posting a .907 save % in Columbus, and say he's horrible, then dismiss the .919 save % he's posted over 77 games as a Flyer.

Look at Bryzgalov. Behind Phoenix's defensive borg system he was at a .917 save %, which is hurt by the 2008-09 season where he was at .906. Every other season in Phoenix, he was above .920. Every where else, his numbers are lower (.909 with Anaheim, .905 with Philly, .908 in Edmonton, .911 in Minnesota).

Habs twitter feed says they have traded Travis Moen for Sergei Gonchar

http://canadiens.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=738664

Hexy should look into Panarin in the KHL

It's my biggest issue with stats analysis and goaltenders. There are some stats guys feel that goaltending is independent of defense. They look at a guy like Mason posting a .907 save % in Columbus, and say he's horrible, then dismiss the .919 save % he's posted over 77 games as a Flyer.

Look at Bryzgalov. Behind Phoenix's defensive borg system he was at a .917 save %, which is hurt by the 2008-09 season where he was at .906. Every other season in Phoenix, he was above .920. Every where else, his numbers are lower (.909 with Anaheim, .905 with Philly, .908 in Edmonton, .911 in Minnesota).
- Jsaquella

I think its quite clear to eveyone that Mason is substantially better than Bryz. We got to see both goaltenders play behind the same exact defense. Bryz had no more excuses after that.....

That is probably the most ridiculous way to evaluate a goaltender as any other fancy stat I have seen.

Fact of the matter is... Mason has put up Lundqvist numbers since his time in Philly and hes playing behind a defense that forces him to make 10 bell saves on a regular basis. No Flyers goaltender has been able to succeed (at a high level) other than him since Prongers absence.

Including Mr. BOB Vezina himself.
- GOA88

It is ridiculous. First of all, how reliable can one guy be in compiling the distance of every shot in every game? Human element involved there. Secondly, all shots from 30 feet or any other distance are created equal? It's a shame that the stat heads have forgotten about actually watching the games to critique a players performance, and think they can look at everything with statistics to come to the proper conclusion.

I think its quite clear to eveyone that Mason is substantially better than Bryz. We got to see both goaltenders play behind the same exact defense. Bryz had no more excuses after that.....
- GOA88

Bryz had a great glove hand....he he

Habs twitter feed says they have traded Travis Moen for Sergei Gonchar

http://canadiens.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=738664
- Jsaquella

So does LeBrun

I think its quite clear to eveyone that Mason is substantially better than Bryz. We got to see both goaltenders play behind the same exact defense. Bryz had no more excuses after that.....
- GOA88

Even quality of shots can be subjective. You can draw a box in front of the net and say that it's a high scoring area, and that's true, but what about a deflected point shot? Or an outside shot that the goalie never sees because his defense allows him to be screened?

I'm very much a proponent of stats, but in terms of goalies there's still a lot a factors that are subjective.

Bryz had a great glove hand....he he
- vejim

Mason is better than Bryz in every aspect of the position. I mean really.

So does LeBrun
- ob18

Who adds that the Stars are eating 8% of Sergei's salary

Even quality of shots can be subjective. You can draw a box in front of the net and say that it's a high scoring area, and that's true, but what about a deflected point shot? Or an outside shot that the goalie never sees because his defense allows him to be screened?

I'm very much a proponent of stats, but in terms of goalies there's still a lot a factors that are subjective.
- Jsaquella

BUT!!! Mason's career save% is .907. He sucks!

Mason is better than Bryz in every aspect of the position. I mean really.
- GOA88

He's certainly better then the Bryzgalov the Flyers got. Probably not better then Bryzgalov in Phoenix.

Who adds that the Stars are eating 8% of Sergei's salary
- Jsaquella

Not bad since they unload Moen and his 1 year plus.

He's certainly better then the Bryzgalov the Flyers got. Probably not better then Bryzgalov in Phoenix.
- MJL

That was just an elusion. The defense hid a lot of his flaws. As soon as Detroit undressed that defense in the playoffs.... everyone was asking if the real Bryz would please stand up.

Who adds that the Stars are eating 8% of Sergei's salary
- Jsaquella

I thought the stars had zero d depth?

That was just an elusion. The defense hid a lot of his flaws. As soon as Detroit undressed that defense in the playoffs.... everyone was asking if the real Bryz would please stand up.
- GOA88

I don't know that I can agree with that. I don't think it was so much about hiding his flaws. Bryzgalov got spun out from the pressure, and it just snowballed.

Mason is better than Bryz in every aspect of the position. I mean really.
- GOA88

still cant believe Homer signed him, I dont care how much pressure Eddie created that was a terrible signing

I thought the stars had zero d depth?
- Just5

They obviously felt Gonchar was expendable.

I don't know that I can agree with that. I don't think it was so much about hiding his flaws. Bryzgalov got spun out from the pressure, and it just snowballed.
- MJL

Regardless of what happened... Bryz cant deal with pressure and that is important as a goalie. He has never been a reliable playoff goalie. Quite awful actually. His numbers in Anaheim were behind a hall of fame defense.

Regardless of what happened... Bryz cant deal with pressure and that is important as a goalie. He has never been a reliable playoff goalie. Quite awful actually. His numbers in Anaheim were behind a hall of fame defense.
- GOA88

It's really a position where you have to be strong mentally, and I think that's Bryzgalov's biggest weakness. Any goaltender's numbers are going to be affected by the defense in front of him. One thing that makes Mason a better fit here, is that he is more athletic, and quicker side to side.

It's really a position where you have to be strong mentally, and I think that's Bryzgalov's biggest weakness. Any goaltender's numbers are going to be affected by the defense in front of him. One thing that makes Mason a better fit here, is that he is more athletic, and quicker side to side.
- MJL

Which means he is a better goalie. He makes saves that Bryz cant. Thats all I know

So does LeBrun
- ob18

Has Ek confirmed yet? If not, I won't believe it

still cant believe Homer signed him, I dont care how much pressure Eddie created that was a terrible signing
- vejim

No goalie should ever be signed to a contract of that terms.. Too much can happen over that time period and its unrealistic to think a goalie can play at a high level for 9 years to command such a contract.. Let alone a mostly unproven one such as Bryz... Hindsight maybe? Live and learn.. or live and laugh