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Carolina Hurricanes: 5 options better than Scott Darling

By Andrew Miller

RALEIGH, NC - JANUARY 14: Scott Darling #33 of the Carolina Hurricanes stretches in the crease prior to an NHL game against the Calgary Flames on January 14, 2018 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, to an North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC - JANUARY 14: Scott Darling #33 of the Carolina Hurricanes stretches in the crease prior to an NHL game against the Calgary Flames on January 14, 2018 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, to an North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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ST. LOUIS, MO – DECEMBER 16: Steve Mason #35 of the Winnipeg Jets defends the net against the St. Louis Blues at Scottrade Center on December 16, 2017 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Jeff Curry/NHLI via Getty Images)
ST. LOUIS, MO – DECEMBER 16: Steve Mason #35 of the Winnipeg Jets defends the net against the St. Louis Blues at Scottrade Center on December 16, 2017 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Jeff Curry/NHLI via Getty Images) /

30. . Goalie. Winnipeg Jets. Steve Mason. 5. player

Among all the goalies on this list, most were available through the 2017 free agent cycle, including Steve Mason of the Winnipeg Jets. While Mason is not the starting goalie for the Jets, he’s still a part of one of the best teams in the league this season.

Mason has a save percentage slightly better than Darling’s, but he also has a proven track record in the NHL. There’s no doubt that Mason is not the long-term solution for the Canes, but he is a steadier force than Darling has been through the past couple months.

If the Canes could’ve gotten the Mason that we all saw win the Calder Trophy after the 2008-09 campaign, with the Columbus Blue Jackets, or when he was an All-Star with the Philadelphia Flyers, they would be good to go. But, that’s somewhat of a pipedream at this point in Mason’s career.

The 29-year-old goaltender is inconsistent, but he has playoff experience and knows how to succeed. He’s led a team to the playoffs, pretty much by himself, as a starting goalie. That’s something Darling has not done in his NHL career.

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