Flyers in wait-and-see mode with long-term plan for Mason, Neuvirth
Philadelphia Flyers general manager Ron Hextall seems fine with entering the 2016-17 season with two goalies set to become unrestricted free agents next summer.
Both Steve Mason and Michal Neuvirth are entering the final year of their respective deals, and Hextall has yet to come to a decision with regards to their long-term futures with the team.
"Maybe we sign them both. I can’t predict," he told Dave Isaac of the Courier-Post. "They’re both very good goalies. They both proved it last year. They both should be in their prime/entering their prime. We’re excited about both of them and essentially don’t have a fixed plan moving forward."
Here's how the pair stacked up last season:
| Player | Games | Record | Shots | Save % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Mason | 54 | 23-19-10 | 1602 | .918 |
| Michal Neuvirth | 32 | 18-8-4 | 908 | .924 |
In the playoffs, Neuvirth's numbers blew Mason's out of the water. In three appearances, the former posted a save percentage of .981, while the latter checked in at .852 in almost identical ice time.
Both goalies, it should be noted, enter the new season at 28 years of age.
Neuvirth is playing for the Czech Republic at the World Cup, giving Mason the edge in terms of asserting himself early as the Flyers' starter out of training camp. However, it seems both players will get a shot to lay claim to the gig over both the short and long term.