Looks like the rest of the NHL is starting to catch onto this Mason guy. Check out this read from The Hockey News:
Save for the career accomplishments of Patrick Roy and Martin Brodeur, we have not seen a goaltending story this noteworthy in recent history since Dominik Hasek won back-to-back Hart Trophies in '97 and '98 and Tom Barrasso won both the Calder and Vezina as an 18-year-old in 1984.
Drafted 69th overall in 2006, Mason's star has been on a rise ever since, from success at the 2008 World Junior Championship to fast ascension among top prospects in The Hockey News annual Future Watch rankings.
Even if Mason comes back down to earth a bit and is simply solid the rest of the season, he'll still win the Calder and be a finalist for the Vezina. But in a season when Sidney Crosby has been less than spectacular and Roberto Luongo hurt, if Mason has a couple more spectacular months, he'll outdistance Alex Ovechkin for the Hart.
In two head-to-head matches so far, It's Mason 2, Ovechkin 0. The remarkable rookie has stymied Ovie on all 18 shots.
Save for the career accomplishments of Patrick Roy and Martin Brodeur, we have not seen a goaltending story this noteworthy in recent history since Dominik Hasek won back-to-back Hart Trophies in '97 and '98 and Tom Barrasso won both the Calder and Vezina as an 18-year-old in 1984.
Drafted 69th overall in 2006, Mason's star has been on a rise ever since, from success at the 2008 World Junior Championship to fast ascension among top prospects in The Hockey News annual Future Watch rankings.
Even if Mason comes back down to earth a bit and is simply solid the rest of the season, he'll still win the Calder and be a finalist for the Vezina. But in a season when Sidney Crosby has been less than spectacular and Roberto Luongo hurt, if Mason has a couple more spectacular months, he'll outdistance Alex Ovechkin for the Hart.
In two head-to-head matches so far, It's Mason 2, Ovechkin 0. The remarkable rookie has stymied Ovie on all 18 shots.
A reader actually sent me a stat from the Washington Post... Ovechkin actually fired 24 shots at Mason this past game... in addition to the 12 he saved, Ovechkin missed 6 and 6 were blocked.
Anyhow... this Mason thing is starting to blow up as it very well should.
I don't want to get to ahead of ourselves but if he can keep up this level of play the Calder (trophy for best rookie) is certainly a lock and who knows where it could go from there. The Vezina (trophy for best 'tender in league) certainly has to enter the dicussions.
-LTL
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2 comments:
Calder: Sure
Vezina: Maybe
Hart: If we make the "p-word"
Shaggy,
I wouldn't be so sure about the Hart... It's the player most valuable to his team. Where would this team be without Mason? I can't say any other playoff team has had a savior like the CBJ. I can totally see him winning the Calder, and if he pitches a few more shutouts and the team keeps playing textbook "Hitchcock Hockey", then he's got the Venzina.
Also, the Dispatch is showing a rumor that Vancouveer goalie Curtis Sanford might be adorning the Union Blue with red and white trim soon.
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