Bethany's Hockey Rants

Mason and More

by Bethany on 04/28/09 at 08:41 PM ET
Comments (6)

So, while I was on my short hiatus Steve Mason was nominated for the Vezina Trophy. Steve Mason, the rookie who lead the way for the Blue Jackets to enter in their first ever playoff. Wow. Mason is also nominated for the Calder. While I am pretty sure that Tim Thomas will be taking home the Vezina, it’s great to see Mason recognized for what he accomplished this season.

“It’s an unbelievable honor,” Mason said. “When you look around the NHL and see the type of goaltenders who play in the league ... to be considered in the top three is really special.

“I know I couldn’t have done it without the players around me and without the opportunity (coach Ken Hitchcock) and (general manager Scott Howson) gave me this season.”

The Blue Jackets would never had made it as far as they did without Mason.

Mason was overworked going into the playoffs, that’s not a question. The coach and the general manager have both said it, so this off season they will have to address the Blue Jackets goaltender situation, while he’s at it he’ll have to work on a contract for Rick Nash, sign some centers, and a blue liner with a right handed shot...and any help on the power play will be nice.

There are plenty of UFA’s on the Blue Jackets hockey team, some of the, I don’t want to see back (read that as Christian Backman), and others, I will be upset that they’re going, but I understand...you can read that as Michael Peca.

Looking back on the 2008-2009 season, all I can take from it is positives.

We saw the youth develop right before our eyes.

Mason, Brassard, Dorsett, and my personal favorite, Voracek. Even Nikita got in on the action with his hat trick. The future is bright for the Blue Jackets, and they can take what they learned from this playoff run, and use it for next year.

It’s going to be a really fun off season for the Blue Jackets, but until this season is officially over, and some captain raises the Stanley Cup, I’m not ready to talk about it.

So all my posts from here on out will be on the Blue Jackets players, the season, and well probably complaining about some playoff series...but for now, I have to get through finals.

Filed in: Columbus Blue Jackets, | Bethanys Hockey Rants | Permalink
Tags: Columbus+Blue+Jackets, Steve+Mason,

Comments

i wish the oilers had a goalie like mason. Mason took jackets into the playoffs on his shoulders. hopefully he also get consideration for hart trophy

Posted by Oilers Rock from The city of champions on 04/28/09 at 09:55 PM ET

A bit bitter are you that you lost your first playoff series ever? Get over it and act like a tru hockey fan and not someband wagon blogger.

Posted by True Hockey fan from Nashville TN on 04/29/09 at 06:13 AM ET

A bit bitter are you that you lost your first playoff series ever? Get over it and act like a tru hockey fan and not someband wagon blogger.

Posted by True Hockey fan from Nashville TN on 04/29/09 at 07:13 AM ET

Whew. Irritated this morning? Tires on the roof fall off?

Or are you just pissed Bubba didn’t squeek in again?

And how is a “tru” hockey fan different than a “wagon blogger”?

Posted by IwoCPO from Washington, DC on 04/29/09 at 06:32 AM ET