The Hockey News: Brian Costello's blog: THN.com Blog: Steve Mason becoming NHL’s story of the season

THN.com Blog: Steve Mason becoming NHL’s story of the season

Steve Mason has been amazing so far in his rookie season going 14-9-1. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images)

Brian Costello
2009-01-10 15:20:00

We're only halfway through the 2008-09 season, but a remarkable, unprecedented hockey story is unfolding before our very eyes.

And we haven't even made a big deal about it yet.

Forget all that stuff you've heard lately about Columbus rookie Steve Mason being a late-entry candidate for the Calder Trophy. If he keeps playing even close to the way he has through 24 games, he'll win the Vezina as the NHL's top goalie and the Hart as the league's most valuable player.

No player in the history of the league has won those three awards in the same season, so we truly are seeing a phenomenal story in the making.

Consider the undisputable facts. Mason spent the first month of the season in the American League as Pascal Leclaire and Fredrik Norrena patrolled the crease for the Blue Jackets. It wasn't until Nov. 5 the 20-year-old Mason got his first start of the season. He started off with three straight wins and six of nine.

Then Mason got hot.

After giving up 12 goals in his first four games, Mason has allowed just 30 in the 20 games since, for a mind-boggling goals-against average of 1.50 in that stretch. Included in that run is a league-leading six shutouts.

Mason leads the NHL in GAA at 1.74 (with his closest rivals Manny Fernandez at 2.07 and Tim Thomas at 2.13) and also save percentage at .938 (Craig Anderson is at .933 and Thomas at .932).

What's more is the caliber of competition Mason is stonewalling. He stopped all 45 shots he faced in a 4-0 shutout victory over Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals Friday night. That's the second shutout win over the Caps this season.

In 10 games against the NHL's upper crust, Mason has allowed just 12 goals. Twelve goals? Gimme a break, that's unbelievable. That's four in two games against San Jose, none in two games against Washington, three to Montreal, two each to Detroit and Chicago, one to Calgary and shutouts against Philadelphia and Anaheim.

How crazy is that?

A lot of Mason's success is due to coach Ken Hitchcock's defensive philosophies - the Blue Jackets face the sixth fewest shots against this season at an average of 28.4 - but Mason is the last line of defense and his statistics are the best in several categories.

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.

Related Links

Brian Costello is The Hockey News’s senior special editions editor and a regular contributor to THN.com. You can find his blog each weekend.

For more great profiles, news and views from the world of hockey, Subscribe to The Hockey News magazine.

COMMENTS (34)

Sort: Oldest | Newest Filter: All | Videos

Tim K Posted
(2009-04-30 07:41:27)

Mason is clearly the MVP choice in my opinion over Malkin, and Crosby. He will be ahead of Thomas and Backstron in Vezina trophy, and ahead of Versteeg and Brasard for MVP rookie. By the way anyone who compares Mason to Jim Carey is making a stupid comparison because if one good young goalie fails to become great, that doesnt mean every good young goalie will end up that way. Thats like saying all no.1 picks in the draft are going to suck because of Alexandre Daigle.

CBJFNZ Bob Posted
(2009-04-30 07:39:47)

Tim - I can't cite the names or the source, but I remember reading an article when Mase was drafted that one of the CBJ scouts was very high on him... and was ready to choke somebody if we didn't take him with the 69th pick. Not that an ESPN writer would ever distort the truth...

John Posted
(2009-04-30 07:39:35)

Garth, maybe you should move to Washington and you and Leonsis can make that 15 year deal for $10 million a year. I hope the kid continues strong, but anyone who plays fantasy hockey learns quickly that unknown players that get really hot always turn really cold at some point (Ty Conklin last year?).

kyle okposo Posted
(2009-04-30 07:39:34)

yeah, spend the money on me! wait until i score twenty goals..it should take me about four seasons...

Derrick Mead Posted
(2009-04-30 07:39:34)

As a London Knights season ticket holder I can tell you that Mase is no aberation. He started out in London and at 17 he sucked in his first 6 or 7 games and then rode the pines while Adam Dennis put the Knights into contention. In March of that year Dennis went down with an injury and Mase stood on his head for two weeks. It was unbelievable. Last year he came back from Columbus after a great camp and some games and made the Knights a contender once again. It is no surprise to us Knight Fans what Mase can do. By the way, Mason was in over 20 shootouts in his junior carreer, he only lost 2 or 3.

Thrashnet Posted
(2009-04-30 07:39:31)

Nash and LeClaire for Kovalchuk!

TJC Posted
(2009-04-30 07:39:31)

Could very well be better than Carey Price. Definitely helps that he doesnt play here for the Leafs, where we will kill young players dreams buy projecting the next 15 years of his career after his first training camp. Not to mention that our fans dont understand what development means (trust me, ive attended over a decades worth of AHL Leafs and Marlies games). A young goalie would be thrust in here and burnt to a crisp under the lights, It'd happen to Schenn, but unlike a goalie, he gets to go back to the bench... A shame for fans that Mason's not more visible, but not to him, and not to the Blue Jackets.

Andrew Posted
(2009-04-30 07:39:31)

Wasn't last week Tim Thomas

PRICEISRIGHT4VEZINA Posted
(2009-04-30 07:39:30)

Hey remember way back at the start of 2007/08 when Pascal Leclaire lead the league in save percentage and shutouts? Yeah, he finished 11th in save percentage, 2nd in shutouts and 7th in goals against average. Pretty remarkable for Columbus. How's the gutter Pascal? Maybe Steve will meet you there next season. Mason isn't as good as this stats, the kid should be thanking his lucky stars Ken Hitchcock is his coach.

Jessie Posted
(2009-04-30 07:39:30)

Nah, Mason won't be where Pazzy is...anyone who has watched the two of them can see the stark contrast in their technique. Pazzy relies on his quick legs and reflexes--and has next to foundation in his technique. Mason is closer to Price in terms of style and poise, however, the guys in front of Mase do a better job of not allowing too many quality chances each night. 5 on 5 this team has been good all year, but absolutely STELLAR in the last several games. Kudos to the players for working their butts off. Everyone is benefitting and Mason is front and center!

1 2 3 4 Next »