Time to Let Manny Legace go after the season?
Posted 2:43 AM ET | Comments 4
Ok so I am writing this right now very frustrated after watching the Blues get handled in San Jose tonight. Granted the Sharks are a good team but the Blues gave the Sharks every chance to get back in the game and tie it (stupid penalties, turnovers, not scoring on 2 4-minute power-plays) and the Sharks just picked away at the Blues lead, went ahead, and then won it on a nice 4-on-4 goal by Marleau.
But what really frustrates me is the fact that I really felt like Chris Mason played well in net and deserved a much better outcome, just like so many times this year the Blues' defense has let the goaltenders down. I felt the same way about Manny Legace not getting a better draw last year in countless games and now Mason is getting that feeling. But with that said, I have all the respect for Manny and I think he is a great netminder, but ever since he came to St. Louis he has been plagued with injuries, and it's getting frustrating.
Add two more freak injuries this year to the list, slipping on carpet laid out for Sarah Palin and now suffering a mild concussion from getting kneed in the head. Manny's injuries have really deprived him of really fully shining as the Blues netminder, every time it seem Manny is really coming into his own and playing well, something happens and the Blues are left bringing up Schwarz, or Bishop, or Beckford-Tseu at times.
So with that said, as much as it pains me to say, I wouldn't object to seeing Chris Mason as the starting goaltender for the Blues next season with Ben Bishop as the backup. I believe Mason has what it takes to play every night and he is proving it right now. Many of the goals he lets in are a direct result of a defensive breakdown, missed assignment, a guy being left open point-blank in the slot. Mason needs help from the guys in front of him, and next year with a healthy Erik Johnson and potentially Ian Cole and Alex Pietrangelo also joining the Blues defense, I think Mason would have a solid back line to help.
So with all of that said, I know it pains many of the Blues fans out there who love Manny, as he has become a fan favorite, and I gotta admit I love the guy too, if he can't get over this injury bug he has been plagued with in recent years, then maybe the Blues should move on.
But what really frustrates me is the fact that I really felt like Chris Mason played well in net and deserved a much better outcome, just like so many times this year the Blues' defense has let the goaltenders down. I felt the same way about Manny Legace not getting a better draw last year in countless games and now Mason is getting that feeling. But with that said, I have all the respect for Manny and I think he is a great netminder, but ever since he came to St. Louis he has been plagued with injuries, and it's getting frustrating.
Add two more freak injuries this year to the list, slipping on carpet laid out for Sarah Palin and now suffering a mild concussion from getting kneed in the head. Manny's injuries have really deprived him of really fully shining as the Blues netminder, every time it seem Manny is really coming into his own and playing well, something happens and the Blues are left bringing up Schwarz, or Bishop, or Beckford-Tseu at times.
So with that said, as much as it pains me to say, I wouldn't object to seeing Chris Mason as the starting goaltender for the Blues next season with Ben Bishop as the backup. I believe Mason has what it takes to play every night and he is proving it right now. Many of the goals he lets in are a direct result of a defensive breakdown, missed assignment, a guy being left open point-blank in the slot. Mason needs help from the guys in front of him, and next year with a healthy Erik Johnson and potentially Ian Cole and Alex Pietrangelo also joining the Blues defense, I think Mason would have a solid back line to help.
So with all of that said, I know it pains many of the Blues fans out there who love Manny, as he has become a fan favorite, and I gotta admit I love the guy too, if he can't get over this injury bug he has been plagued with in recent years, then maybe the Blues should move on.
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The Sharks aren't just a 'good' team. They're far and away the best team in the league.The Blues played VERY well. The Sharks can rip any team to shreds, and Andy Murray's guys put up a very brave fight. Don't throw Manny under the bus just yet.The Blues are improved...massively. Next year is their year.
If the season ended today, the Blues would choose to part ways with Manny. Because of his age, his poor play to date this season and all his little quirky knee injuries factored in to the equation. The only one who can change that for the remainder of this season is Manny. It's totally up to him. I think he has two more good years of hockey left in him. I'd hate to see the Blues and Manny part ways in this manner, but he's doing nothing to earn a new contract to date. As far as moving forward, there are a number of valuable veteran net minders available every year that I'd look at before Bishop. I'm not convinced he's an NHL caliber goal tender.
Mason showed us the same exact things as Vokoun's backup, however, when he got the call to be 'The Man' he failed to get the job done. Yanked multiple times, he just never seemed to have the same level of confidence he had as the backup. We'll always love C-Mase, but I wouldn't want my team's fortunes in his hands day in and day out.
I would have to agree with Predaceous because we defnitely had our way with Mason a couple times the last few years. I don't see us keeping Manny around after what we've seen this year, however. Mason may begin the year as the starter, but I would not be surprised to see Bishop as the man by the end of next season.