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New York Rangers Free Agent Target: Steve Mason

By Tyler Kluepfel

Mar 28, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Flyers goalie Steve Mason (35) makes a save against Ottawa Senators left wing Tom Pyatt (10) during the shootout period at Wells Fargo Center. The Flyers won 3-2 in a shootout. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 28, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Flyers goalie Steve Mason (35) makes a save against Ottawa Senators left wing Tom Pyatt (10) during the shootout period at Wells Fargo Center. The Flyers won 3-2 in a shootout. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /
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The New York Rangers are officially on the lookout for a new goalie to backup Henrik Lundqvist. With Antti Raanta no longer in the equation, time for another Benoit Allaire project. This time on Steve Mason.

Steve Mason’s career has been a roller coaster. He arrived in style as a rookie with the Columbus Blue Jackets, winning the Calder Trophy and helping Columbus clinch their first ever playoff berth. The rest of his Blue Jackets tenure became a disaster. Mason couldn’t crack a save percentage over .901 in his final three and a half seasons in Columbus before mercifully being traded to Philadelphia.

Philadelphia treated Mason far better, regaining his starting role and put up a sparkling .921 save percentage over three seasons. Rough times hit this season as he only mustered up a .908 mark in his contract year. A perfect opportunity for the Rangers to buy cheap.

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Benoit Allaire Magic

Steve Mason has the perfect frame for an NHL goalie. At 6’4″ 215 lbs coupled with his past success, it’s easy to see how he can become an elite goaltender. For whatever reason, he’s never been able to stay at that level and make the leap consistently. Mason has a reputation of being inconsistent. He can look amazing some nights and dreadful others. That’s where Benoit Allaire comes in and irons out the wrinkles.

Rangers fans already know what Allaire is capable of. He turned Cam Talbot, an undrafted goalie into a top 15 goalie in the entire league. Antti Raanta, despite being undersized, helped net the Rangers a top 10 draft pick in a trade. If Mason wants to prove to the hockey world he can become an elite goalie, Allaire is the best man to help.

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What’s the price?

Mason is coming off a three-year contract where he made an average of 4.1 million dollars per season. That number will most likely come down after posting a sub-.910 save percentage this season. Also no help with the goaltending carousel that went on in Philadelphia between Mason, Michal Neuvirth and Anthony Stolarz.

Mike Condon of the Ottawa Senators received a three-year, 7.2 million dollar contract after one above average season. Perhaps a little pricey for the Rangers if they want to give Mason a comparable contract, but it’s worth remembering the Rangers are swimming in cap space right now. Is paying a backup a little over two million dollars worth it? If it creates another trade asset like Raanta and Talbot did, it’s certainly worth the price.

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The Rangers cannot have Henrik Lundqvist play 65+ games a season anymore at age 35. To bring in a veteran goalie that has shown he can succeed like Steve Mason and lessen the burden is huge for New York. The Rangers are at least two years away from having Igor Shestyorkin taking the reigns, and to have continued stability beyond Lundqvist in that time frame is critical if New York wants to stay competitive.

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