Steve Mason just hasn’t been cutting it in net for the Winnipeg Jets. Will they try to shake loose of their off-season signing? Will they trade for another netminder? Let’s take a look at some options, from most likely to least likely.
Stick With Mason – Steve Mason did just sign for two years and $8.2 million (!) over the summer, and it’s still early. We could question the signing all day, honestly. Ondrej Pavelec, former Jet, has a cap hit of only $1.3 million. He doesn’t have the pedigree of Mason (which, is, uh, not great), but he has been much better this season. Pavelec sports a .924 save percentage in six starts with the blueshirts.
Corey Crawford comes with a cap hit of only $6 million. Martin Jones has a cap hit of $3 million. Mason’s numbers have never been stellar, aside from his rookie season in 2008 in Columbus. He took home the Calder, finished as a Vezina runner-up and led the league with 10 shutouts.
Philadelphia never really put much of a defense in front of him, and he’s only cracked a .920 save percentage once in his career. Winnipeg signed him to be a steady veteran starter to protect the young Connor Hellebuyck. Mason gave up 11 goals in his first two contests, Hellebuyck played well, and here we are. He’s an overpaid backup without much of a road to playing time.
Hellebuyck has been a standout this year, but is still young and without much of a track record. There’s still a chance he struggles and the Jets will need to lean on Mason, for better or for (likely) worse. If they try to move him, he’s unlikely to fetch much of anything. Players struggle. if you ride with him, he may get back on track, even if that track is unspectacular.
It’s unlikely the Jets would look to move Mason at this point with a contract that big. They may not be given much of a choice if he fails to regress toward his mean, however.
Give Eric Comrie or Michael Hutchinson a shot, roll with two youngsters – if Mason continues to struggle throughout the winter and the Jets keep winning behind the offense and Hellebuyck, they would be hamstrung. Other than adding salary, they could look to the AHL to find a replacement. Comrie, 22, was drafted 59th overall in 2013 and is one of the Jets’ better prospects. He’s played two games in his NHL career, one in each of the past two seasons. He allowed nine goals on 74 shots in a win and a loss.
Comrie is with the Manitoba Moose, splitting time with Michael Hutchinson. He could perhaps flourish in the NHL, but if were given sparse playing time, might stunt his development a bit. Jets fans know Hutchinson well. The 27 year old former third rounder started 84 games with the team in the past few seasons. He had some bright moments with the team, and at one point looked like a long-term option. I doubt the team would like to turn to him, but hey, he has experience. He’s a warm body, and Mason might be going cold.
If the team really wants a veteran to backup Hellebuyck, they could look outside the organization.
Trade options – Anders Nilsson could probably be had from a mediocre Vancouver squad, as he’s managed to win half of his 12 starts in front of a questionable defense.
If they could pry either Red Wing away, Petr Mrazek or Jimmy Howard, I say go. If they’re willing to sell low on Mrazek, who is only 25, you could have someone split time with Hellebuyck. Mrazek has shown enough promise in his career to take a shot on. The Red Wings also don’t seem very high on him, leaving him unprotected in the expansion draft. Jimmy Howard has been okay, but I don’t see the price being to Winnipeg’s liking.
Eddie Lack was almost a suggestion, but I learned he was traded while I was writing this article. He’s also, uhm, lacking. Sorry.
Maybe they could fish Ilya Bryzgalov out of retirement, although he may not have anything left. He’s fun, though, and would give us more to write about. Can’t hate that.
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Steve Mason could be better. People thought the Jets wouldn’t be on pace for over 100 points after 87 last season. The rebuild is flourishing. The veteran goalie, who was supposed to be a placeholder, isn’t.
The Jets could easily ride the goodwill of their surprising play into a wild card or falling short of a playoff spot, in all likelihood. They can’t jeopardize the future. This team has its best days ahead of them, we would all agree. Mark Scheifele’s injury aside, things are going well. The future might be right now. They can’t let Mason jeopardize it.