And that is my reason I would trade Mason. Also the lingering injuries worry me with goalies.

I might feel different if I thought Mason was head and shoulder better then Neuvirth.

BUt a team like Montreal could really use Mason if they want to try and push for the playoffs. Also Galgary is always looking to upgrade and so if AZ.

- J35Bacher

You just named three teams who don't have the cap space or budget to add a $4.1 million goalie with a year left on his contract. A little bit of realism goes a long way.

There's also the fact that Neuvirth is injured again, and despite his excellent performances when he does get on the ice, he has not shown he can be counted on as a 50+ game starter.

You just named three teams who don't have the cap space or budget to add a $4.1 million goalie with a year left on his contract. A little bit of realism goes a long way.
There's also the fact that Neuvirth is injured again, and despite his excellent performances when he does get on the ice, he has not shown he can be counted on as a 50+ game starter.
- Feanor

You know money usually goes the other way in trades too right?

And that is my reason I would trade Mason. Also the lingering injuries worry me with goalies.

I might feel different if I thought Mason was head and shoulder better then Neuvirth.

BUt a team like Montreal could really use Mason if they want to try and push for the playoffs. Also Galgary is always looking to upgrade and so if AZ.

I would rather move sooner then wait till teams like Detriot shop Howard.

For me I would rather pay Neuvirth something like 4 millon for 3 years over the 6million I might have to make to Mason
- J35Bacher

I think you're overrating how much value goalies have at the trade deadline.

Vinny's goals are almost all on the PP. Can you link me to the posts from earlier this season where you said we should play Vinny and play him on the PP to provide secondary scoring?
- Feanor

I'm glad they got rid of Lecavalier. His contract was an albatross. I'm using him as an exampl as to how inept the Flyers secondary scoring is.

you want to move on from mason?
- hammarby31

Like him as a player, just not sure the next contract will jive with The Plan.

28-yo Mason on $5-6M is probably just fine. Mid-30's Mason on a $5-6M contract... maybe not.

I wouldn't trade him... just let him run out the string... then look at a short-term extension after that, if he continues to play well.

Would be nice to have stability in net while working the kids in, but I'm not paying $5-6M for the privilege, as much as I love Mason.
- Tomahawk

Exactly. I would be surprised if Mason is blown away with some great offer in FA.

I wouldn't trade him... just let him run out the string... then look at a short-term extension after that, if he continues to play well.

Would be nice to have stability in net while working the kids in, but I'm not paying $5-6M for the privilege, as much as I love Mason.
- Tomahawk

See I wonder if you could make something with Detriot happen. They want to move Howard and his 5.3 for 3 more years. They get less money and shorter term. Howard gives you 3 more years of coverage to continue Stolarz development and the other prospects.

For taking on the money and term I would also try to get back either high picks or a prospect like Mantha or Svechnikov.

Detriot will need space because Mrazek will need a new deal.

Bill I think you missed one fact:

If it weren't for Mason last year, the Fylers would most likely be with Eichel or McDavid

See I wonder if you could make something with Detriot happen. They want to move Howard and his 5.3 for 3 more years. They get less money and shorter term. Howard gives you 3 more years of coverage to continue Stolarz development and the other prospects.

For taking on the money and term I would also try to get back either high picks or a prospect like Mantha or Svechnikov.

Detriot will need space because Mrazek will need a new deal.
- J35Bacher

Howard's a (significant) step down from Mase, tho.

Bill I think you missed one fact:

If it weren't for Mason last year, the Fylers would most likely be with Eichel or McDavid
- arichardson22

We would not have been worse than the Sabres last year, and given this team's luck, we would not have won the lottery, either.

At best, we'd have been drafting 3 or 4, instead of 7, and frankly, I may have taken Provorov anyway.

Exactly. I would be surprised if Mason is blown away with some great offer in FA.
- PhillySportsGuy

And we have another year before a decision really needs to be made. The contracts Mason and Neuvirth are on are perfectly timed for this team, really. They're both competing to be the starter in 17-18 when Stolarz should hopefully be ready for backup duties.

Two years for MDZ has worked out well, too. I thought a one year deal would be better, but as it turns out being able to kick that can down the road till 2017 makes things a lot easier.

Howard's a (significant) step down from Mase, tho.
- Tomahawk

And Detroit isn't going to give up one of its good prospects for that kind of deal

Howard's a (significant) step down from Mase, tho.
- Tomahawk

When your plan involves acquiring an older, more expensive goalie who's not as good as the starter you have it's probably time to come up with another plan.

We would not have been worse than the Sabres last year, and given this team's luck, we would not have won the lottery, either.

At best, we'd have been drafting 3 or 4, instead of 7, and frankly, I may have taken Provorov anyway.
- dilbert719

I wasn't being all completely serious. Was just trying to show Mase's impact even more. He kept us in games all season last year and carried us.

Bill I think you missed one fact:

If it weren't for Mason last year, the Fylers would most likely be with Eichel or McDavid
- arichardson22

They were good enough last year to finish above teams like Buffalo, Carolina, and Edmonton, probably Toronto, too. So they'd be in the 4-5 spot instead of the #7 spot.

And Detroit isn't going to give up one of its good prospects for that kind of deal
- PhillySportsGuy

I totally glossed over that part, lol. Yeah, that's not gonna happen.

Hopefully one of our kids emerges as a Mrazek-quality prospect before Mase's deal is up... Madsen and Tomek are looking pretty good so far.

And we have another year before a decision really needs to be made. The contracts Mason and Neuvirth are on are perfectly timed for this team, really. They're both competing to be the starter in 17-18 when Stolarz should hopefully be ready for backup duties.

Two years for MDZ has worked out well, too. I thought a one year deal would be better, but as it turns out being able to kick that can down the road till 2017 makes things a lot easier.
- Feanor

Agreed. I was hoping for 3 years on MDZ. Everyone was freaking out when I said that. 2 years is fine though. He's not the ideal off ice leader you want, but his on ice play has been so good and valuable that it's fine.

Flyers have the benefit of another year to sort it all out.

I wouldn't trade him... just let him run out the string... then look at a short-term extension after that, if he continues to play well.

Would be nice to have stability in net while working the kids in, but I'm not paying $5-6M for the privilege, as much as I love Mason.
- Tomahawk

So we should have good goaltending for the entire time the rest of the team is garbage, and right when the team starts developing with prospects cashing in...we should begin a search for reliable goaltending?

I totally glossed over that part, lol. Yeah, that's not gonna happen.

Hopefully one of our kids emerges as a Mrazek-quality prospect before Mase's deal is up... Madsen and Tomek are looking pretty good so far.
- Tomahawk

I think you mean Sandstrom, not Tomek. Tomek's missed almost the whole season with injury, but Sandstrom has already played 16 games in the SHL, which is a ton for an 18 year old.

http://alongtheboards.com...01/tomeknorthdakota45402/

I'm at peace with them missing the playoffs this season for the fact they did battle and show guts this weekend. Also i think with Brayden Schenn taking a step this season and the emergence of Ghost, who gives us that threat from the blueline we haven't seen in years, Moving vinny all were huge positives this season. If Morin and Provorov can play next season in addition to a possble sprinkling of viable third liners via free agency/trade etc., this might be a whole different team next season. I'm happy with the goaltending, it's not vezina caliber but it's not leightonish. Finally Hakstoll hasn't looked shabby in his first season, just shows the comstant stubborn habits of playing certain guys like umberger who give you zilch game in and game out when they could at least give some young guys a shot.

I'm at peace with them missing the playoffs this season for the fact they did battle and show guts this weekend. Also i think with Brayden Schenn taking a step this season and the emergence of Ghost, who gives us that threat from the blueline we haven't seen in years, Moving vinny all were huge positives this season. If Morin and Provorov can play next season in addition to a possble sprinkling of viable third liners via free agency/trade etc., this might be a whole different team next season. I'm happy with the goaltending, it's not vezina caliber but it's not leightonish. Finally Hakstoll hasn't looked shabby in his first season, just shows the comstant stubborn habits of playing certain guys like umberger who give you zilch game in and game out when they could at least give some young guys a shot.
- JoeRussomanno

I largely agree with this post. I think the goaltending falls closer to Vezina caliber than it does Leightonish, but other than that I agree.

To elaborate...I think cousins looks good in the NHL. I think Morin stays in the NHL and I am really interested to see if they let Konecny stay next season

So we should have good goaltending for the entire time the rest of the team is garbage, and right when the team starts developing with prospects cashing in...we should begin a search for reliable goaltending?
- YuenglingJagr

There will most likely be a number of guys like Neuvirth available, should Mase not agree to a shorter-term extension. Reliable goaltending (+/- league-average SV%) isn't that rare of a commodity -- Flyers just did a bad job of identifying talent at that position before Mase came along.

I totally glossed over that part, lol. Yeah, that's not gonna happen.

Hopefully one of our kids emerges as a Mrazek-quality prospect before Mase's deal is up... Madsen and Tomek are looking pretty good so far.
- Tomahawk

They have 4 legit goalie prospects. I feel like the odds of one becoming a starter is pretty high. It just might not be for 3-4 years unless it's Stolarz.

I think you mean Sandstrom, not Tomek. Tomek's missed almost the whole season with injury, but Sandstrom has already played 16 games in the SHL, which is a ton for an 18 year old.

http://alongtheboards.com...01/tomeknorthdakota45402/
- Feanor

Oops sorry, yeah Sandstrom.