If you don't think Mason is consistent, then how is Neuvirth more consistent? Did Neuvirth look like a #1 last night?
- MJL

My point is neither are. And Mason will never be worth more than he is at this very second.

I'll play the bad guy and just ask:

Why doesn't he have a contract then?

If Bradford's contract pointed out he wasn't the long term solution doesn't Mason's lack of a contract point to the same thing?

(I'd give him a contract tomorrow)
- mayorofangrytown

That's not playing the bad guy, it's a legitimate question. I don't know why he doesn't have a contract. I could speculate on some reasons for that, but factually I couldn't tell you. Perhaps Hextall feels differently, and wants to wait. Who knows.

...also that is pretty much what the Flyers do now, only with the low forward on the opposite side.
- MJL

Yeah, it's an adjustment to fit the present personnel, not a complete rehashing... the non-netfront F can slide back into the high slot 1-3-1 if/when the PK is ignoring the high slot or chasing the points, but otherwise, I'd like them to sit lower, wider, so the half-wall QB has more than just 1 passing option that forces the goalie to move side-to-side (maximize vulnerability).

They both have?'s in their past. Neuwirth couldn't beat out Holtby. And yes, this is the first time that both of them have had a decent defense in front of them. But this has always been a 1a and 1B goalie situation. I just don't personally believe that either one has knocked the other out of contention.
- section32

I believe Mason's consistently strong play for the better part of 3 years puts him firmly ahead of Neuvirth. I love Mason and think he's a top 10 goalie, but I see the Flyers goalie pipeline and I'm not sure I want to commit long-term to him unless the dollar amount is very friendly. Ideally, I'd like to see him here on a 3 year deal. His age and injury history worry me long-term. That type of deal may be wishful thinking though.

My point is neither are. And Mason will never be worth more than he is at this very second.
- section32

If Mason is not consistent, and only wants him as a rental, how can you expect LA to give up a top asset for him?

I just deal in the facts.
- MJL

Bless your heart, Joe Friday

Yeah, it's an adjustment to fit the present personnel, not a complete rehashing... the non-netfront F can slide back into the high slot 1-3-1 if/when the PK is ignoring the high slot or chasing the points, but otherwise, I'd like them to sit lower, wider, so the half-wall QB has more than just 1 shooting option that forces the goalie to move side-to-side (maximize vulnerability).
- Tomahawk

I'm all for adding more nuances to the PP, and player rotations. I just don't agree on leaving he slot open, for reasons that I laid out previously. Makes it to easy to pressure the puck for the PK. It would take away options in my opinion. You can slide off the players down low, with no option for an immediate shot from them. Too easy to screen them off from the front of the net.

My point is neither are. And Mason will never be worth more than he is at this very second.
- section32

To the Flyers to, though -- we can go around all day about this, but if they move Mason, they are a worse team the second that deal is finalized.

That can't be in dispute. You cannot look at what Mason has done with the Flyers and not acknowledge that trading that dude for some third-line forwards and picks doesn't make them a demonstrably worse team the second a deal would go down

They both have?'s in their past. Neuwirth couldn't beat out Holtby.
- section32

Not many can

And yes, this is the first time that both of them have had a decent defense in front of them. But this has always been a 1a and 1B goalie situation. I just don't personally believe that either one has knocked the other out of contention.

I agree with this. And there's plenty of time before a decision has to be made.

"Jake could still play the right wall, just have Schenn and Simmer at either post and move in/kick out depending on which side of the ice the puck is on."
- MJL

Move-in, as in sliding in front of the goalie. If that wasn't clear, apologies, but subsequent posts clarified that point I believe.

I still look at that as Sather hardballed him just to be a d-bag, and Fonzie did what Fonzie does to guys he doesn't like

Yeah, he could've been more mature as a young player and he wasn't great in Nashville after getting traded, but people forget that he had an extremely promising start to his career, multiple seasons. It's not like he hadn't played well before. He really had
- AllInForFlyers

I think people (me) were quick to label him as a guy whose promising early career had regressed to the point where he was just about out of the league (remember the timing and terms of his signing with the Flyers?).

I'm still not sold on MDZ being a fixture on the Flyers defense long term, but. . .

The Flyers have more than gotten their money's worth out of him, and at present they need him in the lineup.

I believe Mason's consistently strong play for the better part of 3 years puts him firmly ahead of Neuvirth. I love Mason and think he's a top 10 goalie, but I see the Flyers goalie pipeline and I'm not sure I want to commit long-term to him unless the dollar amount is very friendly. Ideally, I'd like to see him here on a 3 year deal. His age and injury history worry me long-term. That type of deal may be wishful thinking though.
- PhillySportsGuy

There are some teams who will be looking, after this season -- Brian Elliott's on a one-year in Calgary, Craig Anderson is 35 or 36 years old up in Ottawa, Dallas...there will be teams looking

Hey! We agree on something!
- AllInForFlyers

I disagree with this.

I just don't agree on leaving he slot open
- MJL

I don't either

I plead guilty on Read, but I am a lot more encouraging on some other guys. To me, since Berube scratched him for that one stretch -- and I still disagree with that -- MDZ has been the best defenseman on this team, and it really wasn't all that close for long stretches

He was playing 26-30 minutes a night for some stretches, and those weren't minutes because they didn't have anyone else. I was glad to see that dude out there for those minutes
- AllInForFlyers

I just think people are quick to say "___________________ is replaceable" when they aren't. Their are maybe 2-3 defenseman on the market that will be better than MDZ and that's assuming Shattenkirk and Burns don't re-sign. It would behoove the Flyers to make a play to re-sign MDZ now before those guys.

In defense of people like myself who are somewhat less than enamored of MDZ, there was a point when his development curve looked more like a cliff off of which he had tumbled.
- Doc_Sarcasm

If he plays well this year, it will have been three years of strong play. I'm not sure how much more you'd need to see.

Move-in, as in sliding in front of the goalie. If that wasn't clear, apologies, but subsequent posts clarified that point I believe.
- Tomahawk

Subsequent posts clarified after I pointed out the flaws in it. I rebutted with the fact that on many occasions they won't be able to get to the front of the net quick enough for screens and deflections, and since there wouldn't be a slot presence to hold the defense in, they can pressure the puck harder, and since the down low forwards will automatically start from outside, it makes it too easy to seal them off and thwart them from getting to the front. Need to have that slot presence in my opinion. Need to create mini 3 on 2's. Too easy to cut the ice in half, and cover it for the PK team.

If he plays well this year, it will have been three years of strong play. I'm not sure how much more you'd need to see.
- PhillySportsGuy

I'm still holding that sophomore year under Tortarella against him.

I just think people are quick to say "___________________ is replaceable" when they aren't. Their are maybe 2-3 defenseman on the market that will be better than MDZ and that's assuming Shattenkirk and Burns don't re-sign. It would behoove the Flyers to make a play to re-sign MDZ now before those guys.
- PhillySportsGuy

You do have to laugh at it, sometimes -- there really, really aren't many dudes out there who can play 26 minutes a night

Maybe he takes a slight discount to stay, if he likes it here. But again, if he comes back and plays 23 minutes a night...I just don't see how, at his age, he doesn't get $5.5-6.5 if he is determined. He's a legit Top 4 on a good team. If he demands it, he's gonna get from somewhere

If he plays well this year, it will have been three years of strong play. I'm not sure how much more you'd need to see.
- PhillySportsGuy

Considering that my dislike of MDZ is at least 50% reflexive and illogical, its probably going to take four Stanley Cup victories, 2 Conn Smythe Trophies by MDZ and he's going to have to rescue a litter of puppies from a burning building while at the very same time rescuing an old lady... and then I will probably consider the matter for some time before deciding that in the end, I still havent seen enough.

Subsequent posts clarified after I pointed out the flaws in it. I rebutted with the fact that on many occasions they won't be able to get to the front of the net quick enough for screens and deflections, and since there wouldn't be a slot presence to hold the defense in, they can pressure the puck harder, and since the down low forwards will automatically start from outside, it makes it too easy to seal them off and thwart them from getting to the front. Need to have that slot presence in my opinion. Need to create mini 3 on 2's. Too easy to cut the ice in half, and cover it for the PK team.
- MJL

Now I know how Hillary feels.

Now I know how Hillary feels.
- Tomahawk

Can you explain how dementia feels like?

Asking for a friend ..

If Mason is not consistent, and only wants him as a rental, how can you expect LA to give up a top asset for him?
- MJL

I certainly wouldn't expect Hexie to advertise it… and they are the ones who were kicking the tires.

If Mason is not consistent, and only wants him as a rental, how can you expect LA to give up a top asset for him?
- MJL

I'd only expect picks if it involved LA, they have a terrible prospect pool

Wow mod

Way to be a DGTBG