With Connor Hellebuyck not quite ready to assume the starting goalie role in Winnipeg, the Jets are on the lookout for help between the pipes. Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Sun reports that the team has checked in with soon-to-be unrestricted free agent Steve Mason; TSN’s Bob McKenzie adds (Twitter link) that their level of interest is significant.
Mason’s agent Anton Thun had the following to say to Mike Sawatzky of the Winnipeg Free Press about the Jets:
“Yes we are considering the Jets, but we are considering every open No. 1 goaltending spot as we should be until those spots get filled.”
The 29 year old is coming off a down season with the Flyers, one where he posted a 2.66 GAA and a .908 SV% in 58 appearances. That said, those numbers would still represent upgrades on what Winnipeg’s goaltenders compiled in 2016-17, a 2.97 GAA and a .904 SV%. However, Mason has made at least 50 appearances in seven of his nine NHL seasons (one of the ones he didn’t was the lockout-shortened 2012-13 campaign) which would certainly be appealing to GM Kevin Cheveldayoff as a bridge until Hellebuyck is ready to take on the number one role on a more full-time basis.
At the end of the season, Mason voiced his criticism of the goalie platoon that was utilized between himself and Michal Neuvirth with the Flyers. That would make it at least somewhat interesting that he’d consider joining the Jets who would likely operate in a similar manner with him and Hellebuyck (and that doesn’t even factor in incumbent backup Michael Hutchinson who has another year left on his deal).
Mason, who ranks 25th on our Top-50 UFA List, earned $4.1MM in each of the last three seasons and will almost assuredly be taking a pay cut wherever he signs.