Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204 Report post Posted June 20, 2008 http://sportsnet.ca/hockey/2008/06/20/blues_predators_mason/ Weird move by Nashville considering Ellis might be leaving. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hockeytown0001 7,652 Report post Posted June 20, 2008 Wow, did not see this one coming. This has to mean that Nashville is keeping Ellis. And what does this mean for the Blues? Mason is a capable starting goaltender, which they already have in Manny. I guess there'll be a fight for the number 1 job come training camp. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rick zombo 3,739 Report post Posted June 20, 2008 It was rumored that a big part of Ellis re-signing hinged on playing time in Nashville. With Ellis, mason, and Pekka Rinne, Nashville would have quite the log-jam. This trade seems like a pro-active move to clear the way for an Ellis signing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Reds4Life 51 Report post Posted June 20, 2008 (edited) So it seems Ellis will play for the Predators..good job by Preds. Mason is dead weight. edit: Confirmed, Ellis is re-signed.. http://predators.nhl.com/team/app/?service...rticleid=366393 Edited June 20, 2008 by Reds4Life Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ltgator333 3 Report post Posted June 20, 2008 Well hopefully Ellis is the real deal for the Preds, I believe he is. And Mason will push Legacy for the #1 spot in St. Louis, I don't think he'll take it from him but at least they'll have a solid option behind Legacy. Chris Mason can win some games. All in all the central division gets better, and people still won't be able to use the 'wings had a cakewalk in their division' BS. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Inultus 12 Report post Posted June 20, 2008 After looking at the stats for the Blues current backup I can see why they want a change. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NeverForgetMac25 483 Report post Posted June 20, 2008 So it seems Ellis will play for the Predators..good job by Preds. Mason is dead weight. edit: Confirmed, Ellis is re-signed.. http://predators.nhl.com/team/app/?service...rticleid=366393 I don't necessarily feel Mason is dead-weight, but he just isn't "the guy". He was perfectly capable as Vokoun's backup, but faltered when thrust into the starting role. In St. Louis, he'll be a solid backup for Legace and this helps alleviate the abundance in that level of a goalie. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
betterREDthandead 58 Report post Posted June 20, 2008 I don't necessarily feel Mason is dead-weight, but he just isn't "the guy". He was perfectly capable as Vokoun's backup, but faltered when thrust into the starting role. In St. Louis, he'll be a solid backup for Legace and this helps alleviate the abundance in that level of a goalie. I dunno about solid backup. Hedging their bets is more like it. Manny's 35. 36 by the playoffs if the Blues think they're that caliber of a team next year. Mason's a little bit younger. Legace and Mason is a fair tandem that won't strike fear in anyone but won't implode either. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VM1138 1,921 Report post Posted June 20, 2008 I like that the Central is getting better. They won't be as good as the best teams the Wings face every year, but they'll be good enough to keep us in peak form come playoff time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
haroldsnepsts 4,826 Report post Posted June 20, 2008 I dunno about solid backup. Hedging their bets is more like it. Manny's 35. 36 by the playoffs if the Blues think they're that caliber of a team next year. Mason's a little bit younger. Legace and Mason is a fair tandem that won't strike fear in anyone but won't implode either. Exactly. I think by signing Mason the Blues potentially have a 1A 1B goaltender situation. Or at the very least, two 1B goaltenders. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Opie 308 Report post Posted June 20, 2008 Exactly. I think by signing Mason the Blues potentially have a 1A 1B goaltender situation. Or at the very least, two 1B goaltenders. Umm Manny Legace has proven he is not option #1 on any team that has cup aspirations, yes he made the All star team last year, after 2 goaltenders bailed on it. Mason has shown streaks of brilliance followed by streaks of extreme average-ness. The blues now have option 1b and option 1c they do not have a bonafide #1 that can take them to the cup. Maybe they are hoping they can draft one?! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NeverForgetMac25 483 Report post Posted June 20, 2008 I dunno about solid backup. Hedging their bets is more like it. Manny's 35. 36 by the playoffs if the Blues think they're that caliber of a team next year. Mason's a little bit younger. Legace and Mason is a fair tandem that won't strike fear in anyone but won't implode either. He's the very definition of a solid back-up, especially compared to what St. Louis was working with (and a solid amount of other teams). I never said he was great or struck fear into the opposition but he gets the job done for the role player he is. He had an off year this past season but before that he posted the following numbers: 2006/2007: 24-11-4 ---2.38 GAA --- 0.925 SV% 2005/2006: 12-5-1 ---2.54 GAA --- 0.913 SV% 2004/2005: 4-4-1 ---2.18 GAA --- 0.926 SV% Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
haroldsnepsts 4,826 Report post Posted June 20, 2008 Umm Manny Legace has proven he is not option #1 on any team that has cup aspirations, yes he made the All star team last year, after 2 goaltenders bailed on it. Mason has shown streaks of brilliance followed by streaks of extreme average-ness. The blues now have option 1b and option 1c they do not have a bonafide #1 that can take them to the cup. Maybe they are hoping they can draft one?! Which is why I said the part about two 1b goalies. I certainly wouldn't want my playoff hopes pinned to Legace. Maybe they're hoping Mason will play more like he did in '07? or are content just to get to the first round of the playoffs until they can find a real starter? not sure. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hank 0 Report post Posted June 20, 2008 http://sportsnet.ca/hockey/2008/06/20/blues_predators_mason/ Weird move by Nashville considering Ellis might be leaving. Wow! What a disappointment for Mason. I remember hearing all this talk on XM during last summer how he was going to be the guy there. A diamond in the rough. But Ellis far outplayed him. Could Mason be the next Brent Johnson? Lots of promise, so little fizzle? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cicada 4 Report post Posted June 20, 2008 good move for both teams Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NeverForgetMac25 483 Report post Posted June 20, 2008 Umm Manny Legace has proven he is not option #1 on any team that has cup aspirations, yes he made the All star team last year, after 2 goaltenders bailed on it. Mason has shown streaks of brilliance followed by streaks of extreme average-ness. The blues now have option 1b and option 1c they do not have a bonafide #1 that can take them to the cup. Maybe they are hoping they can draft one?! TBH and realistic, I highly doubt that's their aspirations given that they've missed the playoffs since the salary cap was instituted. Realistically, I would think the Blues' aspirations are to get back in to the playoffs and they now have two goaltenders than can absolutely help them do that. Once they're there though, I agree that these two won't get the job done, but that's not necessarily what their honest expectations are for this upcoming season. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
betterREDthandead 58 Report post Posted June 20, 2008 Exactly. I think by signing Mason the Blues potentially have a 1A 1B goaltender situation. Or at the very least, two 1B goaltenders. I'd call it 2A and 2B myself. Neither one should be starting on a regular basis in this league, not if you have aspirations of getting past the first round, but they're very solid backups. I guess the biggest surprise to me is that the Preds would help out their division rival like that. They're at real risk of not making the playoffs and strengthening a division rival doesn't help. I'd think they'd be better off trading Mason to an Eastern team for a 6th rounder rather than to St. Louis, who might just replace them as the 8th seed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RedFX 48 Report post Posted June 20, 2008 This basically sounds like a confirmation that Ellis is remaining in Nashville. Today's paper had an article saying that the crowded goaltender situation was a major concern for Ellis. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NeverForgetMac25 483 Report post Posted June 20, 2008 This basically sounds like a confirmation that Ellis is remaining in Nashville. Today's paper had an article saying that the crowded goaltender situation was a major concern for Ellis. He's signed: Ellis Re-Signs with Nashville Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
redwinger4747 6 Report post Posted June 20, 2008 TSN Preds sign Ellis for 2 years at 1.75mil per year. Trading Mason now makes sense. This is a steal if you ask me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest EZBAKETHAGANGSTA Report post Posted June 20, 2008 wow the preds have been making some pretty sweet deals lately (aside from Erat). Very good value Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
YoungGuns1340 1 Report post Posted June 20, 2008 They got a good deal on Ellis because hes not a sure thing. Hes the new flavor of the off-season. Mason, Roloson, join the club. He had one good season, and a regular season that was pretty inconsistent. Mason looked the exact same way at the start of last year. And they paid him 3M. Poile isnt making that same mistake again. At any rate, Im happy to see that they didnt overpay him for 2 years. Believe it or not 1.75m is what you SHOULD pay for re-signing a guy like Ellis. This, along with the Suter, Legwand, and Dumont signings are impressive from Poile. Hes definitely climbing the GM scale with these moves. Props. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HockeyCrazy3033 168 Report post Posted June 20, 2008 I think it's good for both sides. Blues now have two solid goaltenders. They aren't 'great' but they can get the job done. Not sure about the post season though. Ellis IMO is going to be really good for a long time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
akustyk 84 Report post Posted June 20, 2008 (edited) are we talking about the same Mason Predators overpaid big time a year (or was it two?) ago when they sent Big Mouth to Florida and thought a decent regular season and nice playoff push makes Mason a legit goalie??? oh the irony... and the Blues get yet another goalie who's supposed to get the job done. looks like they still don't get it that after Grant Fuhr they've been dead terrible in this area... Edited June 20, 2008 by akustyk Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2probert4 8 Report post Posted June 21, 2008 I think it's good for both sides. Blues now have two solid goaltenders. They aren't 'great' but they can get the job done. Not sure about the post season though. Ellis IMO is going to be really good for a long time. He's not carried the load for an entire season yet.....Guess we'll find out if he can do it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
