I honestly believe that Mason likes the Flyers Organization and still feels gratitude for their earlier faith in him and giving him a chance and then a nice followup Contract... I just believe that the handling/use of him by Hak ruffled his feathers and hurt his feelings... I also believe that he wanted a bone thrown to him with lip service hinting to his being the Number One and will be treated as such.
I think that Hextall was honest when he said that he would not discuss Contracts with either during the Season... but with the need of a Contracted Goalie for the Expansion Draft, he went for the cheaper of the two and was pushed for a two-year or nothing by Neuvy's Agent... with the assumption that once the ED was completed and the dust settled, he'd sign a Number One as a Bridge to his awaiting young-uns... I'm not convinced that Mason and Hexy do not already have a gentleman's agreement about after the ED... and Hexy and Mase have made nice-nice to smooth over the ruffled feathers and assure Mason the Number One position.
Well... that's my theory and I'm sticking to it... That or they obtain MAF from Las Vegas and go with him and Neuvy... either theory will do for me, anyway. haha