Sonier says “Mueller is a big, elite, smooth-skating D-man, he has an excellent first pass that will help the Flyers get the puck out of their own end and to the firepower up front. I don’t think Mueller really knows how good he can become, but over time I see him playing in the top-two parings. His transitional game, lateral mobility and puck-retrieving are all dimensional, and when he physically matures, he has a chance to be one of the top players out of this draft class. Added strength is needed, but that can be addressed easily enough at the pro level.”

Peter Laviolette has another chance to win the Cup with the Flyers, and will return for his fifth season with a chance to prove this was a one-year blip and not the start of downward spiral for the franchise.

“We’re not in the playoffs, so we all underperformed,” Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said Sunday. “Players, coaches, myself. And we’ve got to get better. I’m not unhappy with the coaches. I think they did a good job under the circumstances. But we’re sitting here today talking and the playoffs are going to start in two days and we’re not in them, so that’s not good.”

The Flyers went 23-22-3 and were 10th in the Eastern Conference with 49 points. After a slow start, Laviolette’s performance was under scrutiny for most of the lockout-shortened season. The Flyers defense was decimated by injuries and overall inconsistent play doomed the team.

Holmgren made it clear he still believed Laviolette was the right coach and that enough talented players are in place like Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek – to make a quick return to the postseason.

“I think Peter is a strong motivator,” Holmgren said. “I think he’s a strong tactician and I expect him to lead our team back into the playoffs next year.”

With the salary cap dropping from $70.2 million to $64.3 million next season, the 35-year-old Briere the Flyers top earner with a $6.5 million cap hit this season is the team’s prime candidate for a summer buyout under the terms of the new collective-bargaining agreement.

The buyout would save Philadelphia almost $2 million on the remainder of Briere’s deal, which it due to expire after next season.

Mason has played just one period thus far for the Flyers, making nine saves on nine shots in a 4-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets Saturday in relief of starter Ilya Bryzgalov.

Mason, the 2009 Calder Trophy winner as a rookie with the Columbus Blue Jackets, was acquired in a trade last week in exchange for Michael Leighton and a 2015 third round draft pick.

Mason has a career record of 96-99-27 with a 2.90 goals against average and a .903 save percentage. He also has 19 career shutouts.

According to Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston, Mason “is likely to sign a one-year deal” with the Flyers, for less than his current average annual salary cap hit of $2.9 million.

If Mason does re-up, it will only fuel speculation that Philadelphia GM Paul Holmgren is at least considering buying out high-earning starter Ilya Bryzgalov after the season.

• ESPN.com’s Pierre LeBrun reports the “asking price on Ben Bishop right now” is a second-round pick plus either a player or prospect. Bruce Garrioch reports that the  Edmonton Oilers, Carolina Hurricanes,  Philadelphia Flyers and  Tampa Bay Lightning  are interested in Bishop.
  
• After landing forward Ryane Clowe in a deal with the San Jose Sharks yesterday, the New York Rangers aren’t yet willing to stand pat. TSN’s Darren Dreger reports GM Glen Sather still wants to bolster his blue line. ”In the market for a defenseman. Looking at many options”.
• ESPN.com’s Pierre LeBrun suggests the Montreal Canadiens would like to add a bit of sandpaper up front. ”Habs still on the lookout for a gritty forward, may or may not get him. Some slight interest in Raffi Torres.” The Phoenix Coyotes winger is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
• Chris Johnston of Rogers Sportsnet reports that Tim Connolly is scratched today. Feeling has been that Dave Nonis will do everything he can to move him.