Unrestricted free agent goaltender Steve Mason still looking for an NHL team
Jared Clinton: The Montreal Canadiens bought out the final two years of Steve Mason’s contract this offseason after acquiring him from the Winnipeg Jets.
With a month left to the start of the NHL season, Mason is still looking to catch on with a team.
30 goaltenders have signed a new contract this offseason – one-way and two-way deals.
Mason only played in 13 games last season after dealing with knee and concussion issues which is something that might be scaring teams off.
He’s had a 31-27-9 record over the past two seasons with a .908 save percentage and 2.76 goals against average.
A team could offer Mason a PTO soon or could come calling if a team loses a goalie to injury.
The Canadiens have several positional needs and have painted themselves in the corner with regards to Max Pacioretty.
Eric Engels: (asked why he thinks the Canadiens are unwilling to offer Max Pacioretty a fair market value contract?) “Pacioretty has already earned the $ he’s seeking and #Habs have value and depth on the wings and pressing needs at centre and on defence, so paying it might not be their best investment. Also think he’d have fetched a good return in the trade to LA–and poss still can elsewhere.”
Marc De Foy of Le Journal de Montreal: (google translate) Training camp is less than 10 days away and Max Pacioretty is still with the Montreal Canadiens. GM Marc Bergevin won’t offer him a contract extension, and other GMs are not offering a trade package that he likes.
Bergevin has ‘painted himself in the corner’ and will likely receive less than market value for Pacioretty.
Sources are saying that Pacioretty won’t negotiate a contract during the season which gets underway for the Canadiens on October 3rd.