Players to Watch Part 4: Steve Mason
by Andy Newman on Jul 15, 2010 10:00 AM EDT
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PrintContinuing the Players to Watch series, next up is Steve Mason, who will be beginning his 3rd year in the league this season.
His struggles last season have been well documented. And although there was marginal improvement -- probably mostly between the ears -- after Claude Noel took over, we didn't see a strong case that he was back on track like Jake Voracek or Kris Russell. He collected back-to-back shut outs in February against Buffalo and San Jose, but as late as March 23, with only eight games left, Mason gave up six goals in a game to New Jersey. Finally, he finished the season with four straight losses, sealing the fate of our fourth overall draft pick (hello Ryan Johansen).
Feeling bad enough with our franchise goalie yet? Don't worry, better days are ahead.
Goalies take the longest of any position to develop. Meanwhile, Mase just turned 22. Many goalies, including Tomas Vokoun, Evgeni Nabokov, and yes, even Martin Brodeur didn't truly hit their stride until they spent a few years in the league.
In the OHL, playing for the London Knights, Mason was not good his first season. He saw only a handful of games and finished with a 5-3-0 record. It was his second season under coach Dave Rook that he blossomed, securing 45 wins in 62 starts. This will be his second season reunited with Dave Rook as the Blue Jackets goaltending coach, and he knows just how to elevate Mason's game.
He had a great rookie campaign, like many do, but when the realities of professional hockey catch up to these players that are so gifted at lower levels, it becomes a question of how they respond. 33 wins in 61 games played in his rookie season proves he can put up great numbers in the NHL. Soon, we'll see if his conditioning, mental toughness, and ability to improve is up to par this season. Personally, I believe he will be ready.
I'm not going to predict actual numbers, but I see Mason having a very strong year. I believe he can return to his first-year form and put up numbers that ranks him among the top 5-8 goaltenders in the NHL.
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I love Mase so I’m putting him in the Top 10 this year…not saying its a lock but I think he going to be a force in this league for years to come and this year will be a good peek at what the future holds for our young goalie. I’m totally in support of Steve and hope he proves the naysayers wrong.
Philadelphia Flyers/Columbus Blue Jackets...don't ask me how.
I think he can become a top 10 goalie again. Also remember that of those last 4 losses, he had over 30 saves in three of them, and a .937 save percentage. His overall save percentage after the Olympic break was also over .900, despite a couple of stinkers in there.
I really think Mason was showing a rebound with Noel – it’s just a little more subtle than it was for guys like Jake or Brass.
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right, wins and losses aren’t great stats to look at for goalies (generally speaking). Save percentage and to a lesser extent GAA say more about performance, and as you pointed out, masons save % was pretty good after the olympic break.
I hate the steelers the way a mother loves a child.
by notthatnoise on Jul 15, 2010 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions
It’s a fair point, but not a point you have to make if he can close out a game.
Mason is lucky he finished the season with a .901 save percentage… yes, there are times when he stopped a lot of pucks and the team didn’t score in front of him. There were also way too many times where he gave up 6 goals or more this season.
It’s easy to just blame it on the goalie, but it’s also easy to say “don’t blame it on the goalie, he can’t score too.” Bottom line is, someone needs to step up and take accountability, and I have faith that Mason should be willing to do that in his third pro season.
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I think Mason will come out of the gate strong and prove that last year was as much a team problem as well as a confidence problem, the old snowball effect.
I feel very confident mostly because of the last month of the season. The last four losses had less to do with him than the defense.
yeah, if memory serves me well (and it may not) Mason actually played quite well during those last four games.
I hate the steelers the way a mother loves a child.
by notthatnoise on Jul 16, 2010 10:02 AM EDT up reply actions
brian boucher has the record for most consecutive shut outs ( i think 5 or 6) that doesnt mean he is a great goaltender. i dont think 4 games is enough to say that he is back orthat he is a good goalie. im not saying that he wont do ok but im also not saying he will. i think this much like commodore is his make or break year.
“i dont think 4 games is enough to say that he is back orthat he is a good goalie.”
That’s more or less the point I’m trying to get at.
Referencing the last four games may or may not hold any weight. But he lost 7 of 9 in January. 9 of 11 in December. It’s gotta be on Mason just as much as anyone else.
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