Steve Mason.....

In the 2008-2009 NHL season, something incredible happened, something completely unexpected happened.  In the early part of that season, the Columbus Blue Jackets had incredible injuries to their entire goalie staff.  They were desperate so they called up a guy from their minor league system.  They said, "we need you to start a few games for us, just try and keep your head out there."  61 games later and 4 playoff games later, the Columbus Blue Jackets finished with the best season in the entire history of their franchise.  That season was backstopped by Steve Mason, who at that point emerged as a legitimate starting NHL netminder.  Fast forward 3 seasons, Steve Mason has completely faltered.  Each season since his incredible rookie year his goals against average has been over 3.00, his save percentage has been around .900, both stats no where near his rookie year, and he hasn't come close to hitting the standard 30 win plateau for NHL starting netminders.  In fact this season has been pitiful for Mason who has a goals against average of 3.40 per game, a save percentage of .890, and has only 9 wins in 35 games played.  At this point Columbus seems to be ready to throw in the towel on Mason, who still is only 23 years old.  There are so many questions to be asked about Mason, like What does his future hold?  Will he ever be able to hold down an NHL job?  Is Columbus going to just give up on him?

Before asking and answering all the questions surrounding Mason, let's look at what went wrong.  In the 2008-2009 campaign when Mason first came up, he came up into a perfect situation.  Mason was one of the Jacket's last options in net due to injuries.  When he came up he had hardly any pressure to perform as an elite starting NHL goalie.  That's when a goalie can be the most dangerous.  Because of the lack of pressure on him, Mason was able to thrive in that environment.  On top of that too, the Jackets were coached by one of the greatest NHL head coaches all time in Ken Hitchcock.  His strict, defense first system has worked with every team he as coached but he also tends to wear out his welcome.  So in the winter of 2010, Hitch was relieved of his coaching duties and had been reassigned to a job within the Columbus organization.  Since then there have been 3 different coaches working the Jacket's bench.  None of Hitch's replacements emphasize a defense 1st scheme, and thus since Hitch's dismissal, Columbus's defensive game has been terrible and that is a major contributor to Mason's struggles.  Also with 3 coaching changes within the last 2 years, Mason has been the highlight of the Jacket's struggles to adjust to new systems from each hired head coach.  That's the clear on-ice struggles of Mason, but his problems go beyond that.  Steve Mason has incredible talent, great technique.  There's nothing wrong with his physical game, his problems are all mental and are all based on his confidence.  Hockey goalies are a different breed of hockey player.  Many times forwards and defenseman are able to break in to the league and thrive at a very young age, even as young as 18.  However, goalie's are different.  Goalies need to develop the mental and confidence side of their game before they can face the pressures of playing in the NHL, most goalies don't break into the league at least until their 23rd birthday.  Most goalies need the experience of playing at a high level in critical junctures of a hockey game but with minor league pressures from fans, media, and all other hockey personnel.  Steve Mason made his debut in the league at the very raw age of 20.  Having only played 3 games at the AHL level, he excelled when he came up in the NHL.  Since his tremendous rookie season, Mason has been under constant pressure from an NHL market, all be it not a good one, to return to form he had in his rookie season.  That type of pressure Mason should have had experience with in the minor leagues before having to deal with it in the NHL.  And because of that pressure he's facing, he hasn't been able to find the confidence that he played with when he broke into the league. 

So what does the future hold for Steve Mason?  I think his time in Columbus is dwindling.  I think he will be traded or let go from that franchise sometime in the upcoming 2012 offseason.  I think for Mason, what's best for him is to go to a franchise where he isn't expected to be the starter right away, where he can develop the mental aspect of his game, and where he can go and play behind a solid defensive team.  I don't know where he's going to end up but a team like Florida, Tampa, maybe Washington, maybe Chicago are great examples of where he can go and take a step back and work to remodel his game.  If he does that I think he will still be a force to be reckoned with going forward.