Revisiting the biggest offseason acquisitions in Nashville Predators History
By Chad Minton
Chris Mason is an underrated addition in the early days of the Preds
The Predators would eventually become a factory of goalies over the next two decades, but early on they had Mike Dunham and Tomas Vokoun lined up as their goalie duo as an expansion team.
It flew under the radar probably at the time, but the Predators made a late offseason trade for unproven goalie Chris Mason. It would take a few seasons to get Mason up to the NHL on a regular basis, but by the 2003-04 season Mason was regularly getting into games and putting up respectable numbers.
Mason's breakout year was 2006-07 when he played in 40 games, winning 24 of them and putting up a .925 save perentage. He split the starts with Vokoun as that Predators team amassed 110 points. Not bad for an unproven young goalie you traded for eight years prior.
Not to mention, Mason has become one of the key ambassadors of the team now as the color analyst for the Predators' regional coverage. Fans love his player perspective and expertise he brings to the broadcast booth.
For being a shot in the dark goalie trade, this one worked out really well for the Predators and for Mason.