There was a bit of irony in the Flyers' 2014-15 season: Goaltending, a position that has frequently been the franchise's downfall, became its strength.
But Steve Mason's career season got masked - and wasted - because of the Flyers' offensive and defensive weaknesses, causing them to miss the playoffs for the second time in three years.
Mason, coming off a year in which he had the league's third-best save percentage (.928), will headline a goaltending duo that, because of the addition of backup Michal Neuvirth, should be stronger than last season.
In the recently completed preseason, Mason looked in midseason form.