The Chicago Blackhawks have signed goalie Petr Mrazek to a new two-year contract that runs through the 2025-26 season and has a $4.25 million annual salary cap hit. The team announced the deal before its game on Wednesday against the Kraken in Seattle. Mrazek makes a blocker save against Dallas. [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAzNjE0NTAxNDgyODY2NTUw/usatsi_22288434_168401008_lowres.jpg] Mrazek makes a blocker save against Dallas. Healthy this season after two years of battling a groin injury, the 31-year-old Mrazek has emerged as Chicago's No. 1 goalie with a 12-17-1 record, .907 save percentage and 3.01 goals-against average in 32 games this season. The Czech netminder's 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. Mrazek, has repeatedly pointed to his good health being the difference this season after struggling with the groin issues in Toronto in 2021-22 and last year with Chicago following a trade from the Maple Leafs. Mrazek was especially sharp in a 2-1 shootout win over San Jose on Jan. 16 when he stopped 37 of 38 shots through overtime, then eight of nine in the tiebreaker. He seemed ready to re-sign with Chicago after the game. See video. Blackhawks goalie Petr Mrazek talks about nine-round shootout win over Sharks, his solid play and possibility of new contract with Chicago. EXTENDS CURRENT THREE-YEAR DEAL SIGNED WITH TORONTO Mrazek's current three-year, $11.4 million contract — signed with then Leafs GM Kyle Dubas in July 2021 — was set expire at the end of this season. Blackhawks GM Kyle 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.” A native of Ostrava, Czech Republic, Mrazek has appeared in 366 career NHL regular-season games with the Detroit Red Wings (2013-18), Philadelphia Flyers (2018), Carolina Hurricanes (2018-21), Toronto Maple Leafs (2021-22) and Blackhawks (2022-24), posting a 162-141-35 record, a .907 save percentage and a 2.78 goals-against average. The 6-foot-2, 188-pound goalie was selected by the Red Wings in the fifth round (141st overall) of the 2010 NHL Draft.
