Sunday, January 19, 2014

Flyers, Mason Agree to Contract Extension

The Philadelphia Flyers and goaltender Steve Mason have agreed to a three year, $12.3 million contract extension.  The cap hit will be $4.1 million until the end of the 2016-17 season.  He was set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the season.

Mason was traded to Philadelphia at the end of last season by the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for goalie Michael Leighton and a third round draft pick in 2015.  He played in seven games last season for the Flyers and posted a 4-2-0 record to go with a .944 save percentage and a 1.90 goals against average.

The 6'4" goalie was named the Flyers starter in the beginning of the season.  He is 19-11-5 in 37 games played with a .915 save percentage and a 2.56 GAA.  In the early part of the season,  Mason was standing on his head to keep the Flyers in every game even though the team wasn't playing great in front of him, offensively or defensively.  Mason went a span of 27 straight games with the Flyers of not allowing more than three goals in a game that ended in either regulation or overtime.

He has been a little shaky lately and has even been taken out a few games.  He was pulled in a game on January 11 versus the Tampa Bay Lightning after allowing five goals on just 17 shots.  Mason was pulled again in last night's game versus the Islanders after allowing four goals on 24 shots.  

Mason is athletic and can get from post-to-post pretty quick.  He can handle the puck and it seems that, for the most part, he is square to the shooter and ready to make a save.

His best season came in 2008-2009 while with the Blue Jackets.  He won the Calder Memorial Trophy for best rookie.  He had 33 wins, a .916 save percentage, a 2.29 GAA and had 10 shutouts.  After a brilliant rookie season, he struggled in Columbus, but it looks like he has found his game again playing with the Flyers.

No comments:

Post a Comment