Healthy again, the 31-year-old Czech goalie has taken over as rebuilding Chicago's No.1 goalie...for now. But Mrazek's three-year contract is set to run out and he could help a contender as the NHL trade deadline approaches.
Petr Mrazek has repeatedly said the reason for his resurgence is simple. The Chicago Blackhawks goalie is healthy.
After being dogged by a groin injury the past two seasons, Mrazek has put that behind him, at least for now. The Czech netminder, who turns 32 on Valentine's Day 2024, has taken over as the Blackhawks main man in nets.
"When I feel good, I know I can play the game how I want to play," Mrazek said. "And things we're doing with Jimmy (goaltending coach Jimmy Waite) on the ice during practices helps, so that gets you a lot of confidence." See video
Mrazek has given injury-depleted and offense-challenged Chicago a chance to win on most nights — even if his team has lost three straight and eight of nine entering Tuesday's game against the San Jose Sharks.
In 29 games (27 starts) this season, he's 10-16-1 with a 3.13 goals-against average and .904 save percentage. That's on a team with the second fewest points and goals in the NHL.
Contract Extensions for Others, but...
Chicago has given forwards Jason Dickinson and Nick Foligno two-year contract extensions and raises in the past week. Their names are off the list as the NHL's March 8, 2024 trade deadline begins to loom.
Mrazek's three-year contract is set to expire at the end of the season. There's been no hint from the Blackhawks front office about a similar offer to the goalie, although coach Luke Richardson has had nothing but praise for him.
Richardson was asked about a suitable Chicago substitute at the NHL All-Star Game for injured rookie Connor Bedard Mrazek's name was the first he mentioned.
"It's pretty hard to get by Petr," Richardson said.
Mrazek signed his current contract, which pays $3.8 annually, with Toronto and then-Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas in July 2021. The netminder was coming off a solid run with the Carolina Hurricanes, even if he underwent successful thumb surgery in the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season.
The groin injury was another, trickier matter.
The Leafs unloaded Mrazek to Chicago in July 2022. He still struggled with the groin last season, going on IR twice.
Not this year. Mrazek will make his fifth straight start on Tuesday, facing the only team in the NHL with fewer points and goals than the Blackhawks.
He's been mostly terrific.
Chicago lost 2-1 to Edmonton on Jan. 9, then 2-1 at Winnipeg on Jan. 11 when the Jets scored twice in the final 3:29 to erase Mrazek's shutout bid.
Dallas beat Mrazek and the Hawks 3-1 on Saturday when the Stars scored three times in the third. Mason Marchment netted the game winner to cap a 2-on-1 with 5:06 left before Joe Pavelski sealed it with an empty-netter.