A healthy, resurgent Mrazek seems like a logical fit for rebuilding Chicago as younger goalie prospects develop.
The Chicago Blackhawks signed Petr Mrazek, who has emerged as their No. 1 goalie, to a two-year contract extension that pays $4.25 million annually.
The deal, announced on Wednesday before the Blackhawks' game at Seattle, seems like a logical fit for both parties. Mrazek is now primed to backstop the rebuilding Blackhawks and Connor Bedard while long-term goalie prospects Drew Commesso and Adam Gajan develop in AHL and NCAA play.
The move also buys a little time for 24-year-old Arvid Söderblom, who has become Mrazek's backup in Chicago.
After being dogged by a groin injury the past two seasons with Toronto and Chicago, Mrazek has been healthy, resurgent and upbeat this year. The Czech goalie, who turns 32 on Valentine's Day 2024, has repeatedly pointed to his stabilized and strengthened core as the reason for his rebound.
And he's grateful for his new deal with the Blackhawks.
"I'm really happy. We made it done," Mrazek said Wednesday. "It's a great feeling when you were looking back. After the one year that I had been injured, everybody was kind of questioning you, your game, your health and everything." See video:
Healthy Core, Healthy Numbers
Thanks to overcoming the injury, plus support from goaltending coach Jimmy Waite, Mrazek is just able to play his position and stop pucks.
"I've been feeling good and I've been playing a lot of games," Mrazek said after a 2-1, nine-round shootout win over San Jose last week. "And like I said before, being healthy and focusing on just hockey, it's fun."
Mrazek entered Wednesday with a 12-17-1 record, .907 save percentage and 3.01 goals-against average in 32 games so far in 2023-24. The save percentage ranks sixth among all goalies who have played in 32 or more games. His 3.01 goals-against is eighth.
Mrazek has been terrific lately. In seven starts since NHL leading rookie scorer Connor Bedard suffered a broken jaw on Jan. 5, Mrazek is 3-4-0 with a 2.15 GAA and .924 save percentage.
During the span, Chicago has allowed 23 goals, a 2.55 goals-against average. Only three teams — Winnipeg, Vancouver and Los Angeles — have lower goals-against marks for the season.
Move Makes Sense: Mrazek a Stable Bridge to the Future.
Chicago GM Kyle Davidson has stockpiled ample draft picks for the next few seasons. He has plenty of salary cap space.
Mrazek has not only been effective in nets, he's emerged as a leader on the Blackhawks.
Mrazek's current three-year, $11.4 million contract — signed with then Toronto Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas in July 2021 — was set expire at the end of this season. Davidson decided to extend Mrazek, as he did with forwards Nick Foligno and Jason Dickinson for two years, rather than deal the goalie for assets before the March 8 trade deadline.
"Petr is a strong goaltender who continues to display the athleticism and calming style of play that has made him so successful in this league,” Davidson said in a statement. “He’s had an immense impact within our group, and we’re excited to have Petr back.”
Mrazek should be a stable, short-term bridge in goal as Chicago rebuilds for the future around Bedard, defensemen Kevin Korchinski and Alex Vlasic and a wave of soon-to-arrive prospects led by Frank Nazar III, Oliver Moore and Colton Dach. The goalie is happy to take on a leadership role with Foligno and Dickinson. See video.
BTW: We're covering Chicago's top prospects in THN's 2024 Future Watch special edition. We're writing it now. Subscribe at thn.com/free to get one for free with regular editions of the Hockey News and access to the THN Archive.
"He's been great all year for us," coach Luke Richardson said after Mrazek stopped 37 of 38 shots through overtime and eight of nine in the shootout against San Jose. "I've mentioned it before, he talks to guys on the bench. Even in the shootout, he was talking about who was going.
"Most goalies get in their own world. They don't want to talk. They want to focus on their thing. But he wants information and he gives information to our defensemen, especially. He's got energy and he's good. He plays like that." See video.
Following the win over the Sharks, Mrazek seemed eager to re-sign with Chicago. It was a matter of his agent, Edmonton-based Gerry Johannson https://thesportscorporation.com/team/ finalizing terms with Davidson. See video.
The 6-foot-2, 188-pound Mrazek was originally selected by Detroit in the fifth round (141st overall) of the 2010 NHL Draft. Over 12 NHL seasons with five teams, his career record is 162-141-35 with a 2.78 goals-against average and .907 save percentage in 366 regular-season games.
Best in Carolina
Mrazek was at his best during three seasons with Carolina, posting a 2.48 goals-against and .911 goals against average. Although Mrazek had thumb surgery during the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season, he came back strong with the Hurricanes. He finished with a 6-3-2 record, 2.06 GAA, .923 save percentage and three shutouts in 12 games.
That netted him his current three-year deal, completed with Dubas in July 2021.
Then the groin issues hit. Mrazek struggled with the Leafs in 2021-22 — he was placed on waivers in March 2022 – then traded to Chicago in July with a first-round 2022 draft pick (25th overall) for a 2022 second-round pick in a salary dump.
The Blackhawks used the pick to select defenseman Sam Rinzel, now a freshman with Moore at the University of Minnesota and one of the organization's top prospects.
Mrazek still struggled with the groin last season in Chicago, going on injured reserve twice. But he finished strong and returned this season in the best shape in years. See Richardson in the following video: