The Winnipeg Jets plan to hold on to backup netminder Steve Mason following an injury-riddled season that saw him lose his starting gig to Connor Hellebuyck.
Despite his demotion, and despite the Jets inking Mason to a two-year $8.2M deal last summer, there are currently no plans of a buyout.
“I don’t sit here and anticipate that a buyout is a course of action I would take with Steve Mason,” Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said of Mason’s status, according to TSN.
“Steve Mason is a capable No. 1 goaltender in the NHL. He signed with us knowing – and we were very up front with him – that this was going to be about winning, whether it was him, or whether there was going to be competition to win.”
“Steve was a real pro. I’ve seen a shell of our scheduled next year; you’re going to need some goaltending and need some people to back things up,” Cheveldayoff continued. “There’s a lot left for (Mason) with respect to being a No. 1 goaltender in the NHL.”
