Mason was awful for each of the last two seasons. The fact that he was offered more money doesn't make him a better player.
Montoya had a .921 save percentage in 2010-11 and was rolling with a .917 save percentage last year before Evander Kane gave him brain damage. ...unless you think Montoya was propped up by an elite NYI defense, you can't really make a case that he is worse than Chris Mason.
I've probably watched every one of Montoya's games over the last two years. There is a reason why he's never broken into the NHL and there is a reason why we got him for $600,000. He's a borderline NHL goalie and he's brutally inconsistent. Game to game, period to period and shot to shot. He gets lost a lot out there, not even knowing where the puck is or who has it, and not battling hard enough to try and find it. He's not a very athletic goalie and he's not going to magically turn into one.
And I strongly disagree with your assertion that salary means nothing. It's a fact that multiple teams, professional hockey ops people, competed to acquire Mason's services. There is no evidence whatsoever that any other team competed with the Jets to sign Montoya.
If you think Mason was bad, I dont think you'll be too happy if Montoya makes the Jets. We know for a fact Chevaldayoff and Poile think Mason is a better backup than Montoya.
I don't mean to be ragging on the guy here, it's best for all of us if he turns into a reliable NHL'er. He's just not a guy I am unfamiliar with and I don't see him being a long term full time NHL player.
I get what the Jets did here and I don't mind the move. Low risk, stop gap and the salary is so low he can go to the Ice Caps if something better presents itself.
I've probably watched every one of Montoya's games over the last two years. There is a reason why he's never broken into the NHL and there is a reason why we got him for $600,000. He's a borderline NHL goalie and he's brutally inconsistent. Game to game, period to period and shot to shot. He gets lost a lot out there, not even knowing where the puck is or who has it, and not battling hard enough to try and find it. He's not a very athletic goalie and he's not going to magically turn into one.
And I strongly disagree with your assertion that salary means nothing. It's a fact that multiple teams, professional hockey ops people, competed to acquire Mason's services. There is no evidence whatsoever that any other team competed with the Jets to sign Montoya.
If you think Mason was bad, I dont think you'll be too happy if Montoya makes the Jets. We know for a fact Chevaldayoff and Poile think Mason is a better backup than Montoya.
I don't mean to be ragging on the guy here, it's best for all of us if he turns into a reliable NHL'er. He's just not a guy I am unfamiliar with and I don't see him being a long term full time NHL player.
I get what the Jets did here and I don't mind the move. Low risk, stop gap and the salary is so low he can go to the Ice Caps if something better presents itself.
Don't these two points contradict one another?
Mason stunk most times when he got in there. Change is welcome, especially when younger and cheaper. We'll see what sort of magic Wade can provide to Al's game.
I get what the Jets did here and I don't mind the move. Low risk, stop gap and the salary is so low he can go to the Ice Caps if something better presents itself.
You are always looking for an improvement, but there is really not options out there right now. Pasquale is nowhere near ready, and the only UFA options left are raw rookies/AHL veterans or a terrible options like Dan Ellis. Montoya will be fine for 15-20 starts, IMO, kinda like a Jason Labarbera (dominate AHLer, below average NHL backup). Not the best situation, but not a terrible one either.
The real issue is that the Jets need ALOT more consistency from the main guy Pavelec, I am much more concerned about that then Montoya as the backup.
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I've probably watched every one of Montoya's games over the last two years. There is a reason why he's never broken into the NHL and there is a reason why we got him for $600,000. He's a borderline NHL goalie and he's brutally inconsistent. Game to game, period to period and shot to shot. He gets lost a lot out there, not even knowing where the puck is or who has it, and not battling hard enough to try and find it. He's not a very athletic goalie and he's not going to magically turn into one.
And I strongly disagree with your assertion that salary means nothing. It's a fact that multiple teams, professional hockey ops people, competed to acquire Mason's services. There is no evidence whatsoever that any other team competed with the Jets to sign Montoya.
If you think Mason was bad, I dont think you'll be too happy if Montoya makes the Jets. We know for a fact Chevaldayoff and Poile think Mason is a better backup than Montoya.
I don't mean to be ragging on the guy here, it's best for all of us if he turns into a reliable NHL'er. He's just not a guy I am unfamiliar with and I don't see him being a long term full time NHL player.
I get what the Jets did here and I don't mind the move. Low risk, stop gap and the salary is so low he can go to the Ice Caps if something better presents itself.
Way I look at it:
Pavs = athletic with great potential but brutally inconsistent
Montoya = decent positioning with some potential but brutally inconsistent
Mason = decent positioning with no potential and brutally consistent with poor play
Also, I'm also a goalie who has watched most-to-all of their games.
I've probably watched every one of Montoya's games over the last two years. There is a reason why he's never broken into the NHL and there is a reason why we got him for $600,000. He's a borderline NHL goalie and he's brutally inconsistent. Game to game, period to period and shot to shot. He gets lost a lot out there, not even knowing where the puck is or who has it, and not battling hard enough to try and find it. He's not a very athletic goalie and he's not going to magically turn into one.
And I strongly disagree with your assertion that salary means nothing. It's a fact that multiple teams, professional hockey ops people, competed to acquire Mason's services. There is no evidence whatsoever that any other team competed with the Jets to sign Montoya.
If you think Mason was bad, I dont think you'll be too happy if Montoya makes the Jets. We know for a fact Chevaldayoff and Poile think Mason is a better backup than Montoya.
I don't mean to be ragging on the guy here, it's best for all of us if he turns into a reliable NHL'er. He's just not a guy I am unfamiliar with and I don't see him being a long term full time NHL player.
I get what the Jets did here and I don't mind the move. Low risk, stop gap and the salary is so low he can go to the Ice Caps if something better presents itself.
You are always looking for an improvement, but there is really not options out there right now. Pasquale is nowhere near ready, and the only UFA options left are raw rookies/AHL veterans or a terrible options like Dan Ellis. Montoya will be fine for 15-20 starts, IMO, kinda like a Jason Labarbera (dominate AHLer, below average NHL backup). Not the best situation, but not a terrible one either.
Free agency options have dried up for sure. And Pasquale is definitely not ready. The Jets might luck into another goalie through waivers though, there are always a few decent goalies that teams try and sneak through waivers when cuts start getting made.
This guy has been playing goal for the New York Islanders and Phoenix (when they sucked). To say he isn't going to "push" Pavelec is to either give Pavelec way too much invincibility power (the mighty cannot fall), or, to simply not look at where Al Montoya has been a.k.a. World Junior Gold Medalist, 1st round draft pick, and increasingly getting more playing time in the N.H.L...this is a great moment for the Jets!!! I think we have two absolute future gems between the pipes...I do think Pavelec will be Pavelec next year (be outstanding and play the majority of games), but I do think we have a far more trustworthy backup in Montoya to play closer to 25 games than we did in Mason. Feels good to be talking Jets hockey again.
21-17 career in the N.H.L. and a SV% of .906...with the Islanders and Yotes...solid numbers in the A.H.L too. This is an absolute steal. Pavelec played 68 games last year and looked a bit fatigued near the end of the season...I think Montoya will get over 20 starts next year...
I've probably watched every one of Montoya's games over the last two years. There is a reason why he's never broken into the NHL and there is a reason why we got him for $600,000. He's a borderline NHL goalie and he's brutally inconsistent. Game to game, period to period and shot to shot. He gets lost a lot out there, not even knowing where the puck is or who has it, and not battling hard enough to try and find it. He's not a very athletic goalie and he's not going to magically turn into one.
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Wow, jesus. I had to read that sentence about five times.
21-17 career in the N.H.L. and a SV% of .906...with the Islanders and Yotes...solid numbers in the A.H.L too. This is an absolute steal. Pavelec played 68 games last year and looked a bit fatigued near the end of the season...I think Montoya will get over 20 starts next year...
It's not a coincidence that he hasn't played many NHL games. When the Isles picked him up from the Coyotes he was splitting time with Matt Climie in the AHL. The goalies ahead of him on the Coyotes depth chart were Bryzgalov, Labarbara and Climie.
The Islanders did not offer him a contract this year because with Kevin Poulin and Anders Nillson, they don't have room for him. Ever heard of Poulin or Nillson? Judging by the salary he got from the Jets, it sure doesn't look like any other NHL team offered him a one way contract either.
He's 27 years old. He's had six seasons of pro hockey since he finished his college career. I wouldn't get too excited.
We signed Mark Dekanich too. Great AHL goalie coming off a very serious high ankle sprain. Montoya insurance. Pretty happy with our goaltending setup going into 12-13: clear #1, 2 clear backups and a goalie of the future.
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