Biron and Beyond

The Martin Biron bandwagon seems to be gaining momentum with yet another strong performanc last night versus (and I'm not talking the tv station) Ottawa. The Buffalo backup stepped up in a big game against a difficult and hungary opponent and shut the door. While I am in aggreeance on the class and demeanor displayed by Biron in the past few seasons in a difficult backup role, I am more concerned with a pair of other goaltenders that are capable of starting in the NHL that may have difficulty getting the playing time they deserve. Biron is an unrestricted FA at season's end and so the end of his backup ordeal appears to be drawing to a close. As for Chris Mason and Eyvgeni Nabokov, they don't appear to be going anywhere fast. Both Mason and Nabokov are both in the 30 plus club and their time to start is now.
After getting utterly shafted by the All-Star nominating committee for his first half performance Mason has been relegated back to a backup role with the return of Tomas Vokoun. Statistically speaking Mason has been performing at a level representative of a starting NHL goaltender for the past 3 seasons when called upon. He performed admirably in a tough predicament in last year's playoffs and has been the consummate professional in dealing with the ailments and injuries to Vokoun. His numbers and his character suggest at the very least he deserves a crack at the starting position on some team. His 2 year contract, while affordable to a team looking for a keeper is attractive, it would also be very difficult to part with from the Predators perspective. With the numerous health issues to Vokoun the Preds would be unlikely to part ways with Mason at or before the deadline.

Nabokov is a rather unlikely member of the splinter in cheek club. In the 4 years he was the undisputed starting netminder in San Jose Nabokov's Save percentage has never dipped under .906 and he has guided 2 less talented squads than the current roster to the Western Conference Final and has a playoff save percentage of .920. Compare that to his 'adversary in the crease, Vesa Toskala's .910 Save percentage and that is a measurable difference. While a large salary is the baggage that goes along with Nabokov's services with perimeter teams looking to make a run or even build for the future the arrival of Nabokov is a decided upgrade to a number of teams. A proven playoff performer at any cost is eventually sought after, unfortunately for Nabokov it may not be soon.

Both goaltenders still have plenty of productive years left in them and it would be a positive for the league to see one or if not both moved to another squad by or before season's end... although the likelihood of this happening is unlikely at best.

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