Petr Mrazek earned himself the starting position in the Detroit Red Wings net during the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and subsequently into the following season. There was talk that Detroit would look to trade Jimmy Howard, and that Mrazek was Detroit’s long-term solution in net.
But since a 6-5 Red Wings victory over Boston on Mrazek’s birthday in February last season, he’s been wildly inconsistent. His play was up and down to such an extent that Howard briefly took over as starter for the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs. This season, Mrazek is sporting a less than spectacular 10-12-5 record with a 3.16 goals-against-average and .894 save percentage.
Not exactly lighting the world on fire, is it?
Meanwhile, before Howard went down with an injury in late December, he was enjoying a bounce-back season. A 1.96 goals-against-average and .934 save percentage were some of the best in the NHL.
Goaltender Jared Coreau, called up from Grand Rapids following the Howard injury, has also looked good, but has been pulled more than a few times from the net, and is still searching for consistency.
How long can the Red Wings wait for Mrazek to rediscover his game that made Howard expendable? He signed a two-year bridge contract before this season with the intention of cashing in on a longer deal down the road, but his numbers don’t reflect those of a bonafide starting NHL goalie.
Howard will be returning before too long. Is it inconceivable that Detroit management could possibly look to trade Mrazek and go back to Howard, who has been the better goalie this year before the February 28 NHL trade deadline?
The Red Wings playoff streak is in danger of ending at 25 years if things don’t turn around in a hurry. Mrazek needs to get back to being part of the solution to Detroit’s troubles, not part of the problem.
