It looks like management has seen enough of Freddy Norrena as well as Puck-rakers is reporting that after 3 pro starts, Steve Mason is on his way up and is expected to make his first NHL start tomorrow versus the Edmonton Oilers.
This also tells us two more things:
1. There doesn't seem to be a whole lot of confidence in Dan LaCosta.
2. Pascal Leclaire is obviously still hurt.
Personally, I'm just glad Norrena is getting the hook. There just doesn't seem to be a lot of confidence with the team when he's net.
Of course the downside of this is that you'd hate to rush a guy like Mason who is a real blue chipper coming off major knee surgery. Confidence is a fragile thing with goaltenders - especially young developing ones so you need to be carefull.
At this point if the Jackets want to stay in this race I don't think they have a choice. Its panic/desperation/hope/take a chance time.
Mason is 2-1 with a 1.63 GAA and a .937 Save%. Granted its the AHL but those are fanstastic numbers.
Contrast that with Norrena's 1-3-2 record 3.16 GAA and a .872 Save% and I think its pretty clear why this move is being made.
Believe it or not the NHL actually recognized the performance of an Blue Jacket player this month. Rookie sensation Derick Brassard was named "rookie of the month" for the month of October.
Conrgrats Brass on a well deserved honor!
Filatov setting up shop in Syracuse - from Lindsay Kramer:
Super Syracuse Crunch rookie forward Nikita Filatov is apparently putting down very tenuous roots in Syracuse.
The team is looking to get him an apartment, perhaps on a month-by-month basis. And his mother is visiting him from Russia. She will be here for three more weeks, helping him to get adjusted.
This doesn't guarantee he won't be recalled here and there, but at least Columbus wants him to grow comfortable with the notion of spending time here.
This is a very good sign that the Jackets are not planning to yank this kid around anymore than they have. I'm glad he's settling in and that he'll be getting lots of playing/development time so that when the Jackets are ready to re-call him it should be for a significant role next time around.
Fire away - good or bad move to recall Mason after 3 AHL games?
-LTL
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9 comments:
Maybe I'm biased, but was there really anyone close to Brass for "Rookie of the Month"? Kudos to the NHL for recognising what we've known in C-Bus for a while.
Mason up? I hope this doesn't end up like other players we've rushed.
Last night...ist period = good play, 2nd period = crap play, 3rd period = good play, OT = Crap, again. What's going on with OUR team?
Maybe Mason was packing his bags because there is another move being made.....a trade? What if Mason were moved to get us a stud defenseman?
I know it isn't likely and just wanted to put some starch in your shorts. Obviously LaCosta will head back down but when Pazzy is ready (supposedly for the weekend) we'll need to do another move.
could we really get anything for Norenna, Backman and Malhotra or Novotny? Probably not but they seem like the parts that could/should be moved. Does Murray, Boll or Dorsett get moved for an upgrade somewhere.
Certainly Columbus will be popular if we're sellers at the deadline. God I hope not but anything goes.
Realistically what goes through Freddy Oh No's head if Mason comes up and starts on Wednesday? How do you keep a guy like that motivated when this is an obvious move that screams - you aint good enough to keep us in this race.
I have to believe if Freddy is benched a trade or waiver statement will follow when Pazzy is off the I.R.
Oh yeah....and Backman has to go too. :)
I just want to put this out there that I was one of the first to scream about the pick up of Backman. I watched this guy right after the lockout in STL and he was part of an awful team there that year too. I have never seen anything out of him that remotely resembled a PP QB and it is apparent that SH was forced to take him from the Rangers as part of the deal so the NYR could dump salary.
I am still very optimistic, but it is clear that our two biggest holes going into the offseason are still our two biggest holes, #1 center and a true puck moving d-man.
If we are serious about making the playoffs, one, if not both of these two holes is going to have to be filed by the 30 game mark of the season
If Norenna goes what the heck do we do with our interim goalie coach?
It's good to see Hitch and Howson take a risk for once!
Leclaire comes back from IR and Howson could ship both goalies off depending on how well Mason plays.
ok so heres an idea...
broduer is out for 3 or 4 months in new jersey...
trade norrena and a defenseman for a top center from jersey
Puck-Rakers is saying "Mason = Carey Price"
Does anyone really think so? I mean, are our netminders going down the tubes that fast (other than Freddy Oh No)?
From Wikipedia (about Carey Price) "Although assigned to the Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL midway through the season (07-08) in January, he was called back up shortly over a month later. Then, with the trade of starting goaltender Cristobal Huet before the trading deadline, Price assumed the starting role. Subsequently, Price was named the NHL Rookie of the Month for March[1] and the NHL First Star of the Week (ending April 6, 2008)[2] as the Canadiens finished first overall in the Eastern Conference. Price completed the regular season leading all rookie goaltenders in wins (24), save percentage (.920), and shutouts (3).
If he plays Friday Mason may very well be FACING Carey Price. Possibly making your first start again the Montreal Canadiens is certainly being thrown into the fire. And they won't let Brassard play on the top line because they're afraid his confidence will be hurt?
I guess they know in Syracuse that Filatov's not planning to be around much between the middle of November and the end of the year, between the Canada-Russia exhibition series and the WJHC.
Any idea where Norrena is potentially going? Not sure how much time is left on his contract, what his options are, etc...
I feel bad for the guy... :-(
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