The Blackhawks have been busy in recent days with the two-year extensions that they’ve handed out to winger Nick Foligno and center Jason Dickinson. It appears as if they may not be done on that front as ESPN’s Kevin Weekes reports (Twitter link) that there is mutual interest in exploring a possible extension with goaltender Petr Mrazek; Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli suggests the netminder is likely to be the next one to ink a new deal to stay in Chicago.
The 31-year-old came to the Blackhawks back in 2022 in a salary-dumping move by Toronto. Mrazek struggled in his first season with the team but has fared much better this season, posting a .913 SV% through his first 29 games. That puts him in the top 20 league-wide among goalies with at least 10 appearances so far while doing so on an injury-ravaged rebuilding team that’s in a battle for the basement.
Mrazek is currently making $3.8MM and while that amount might seem high for a netminder who has been more of a platoon player throughout his career, the market rate for those types of goalies has gone up in recent years. A year ago, it looked as if he was heading for a considerable cut in pay but now, something around this price point, if not a small raise, is within the realm of possibility on a short-term agreement.
The Blackhawks have 24-year-old Arvid Soderblom as their other goaltender and he has struggled considerably this season, posting a save percentage of just .875. Meanwhile, Drew Commesso is one of their better prospects but the 21-year-old has struggled a bit with the IceHogs, posting a .894 SV% through his first 17 appearances. Jaxson Stauber, who made six appearances with Chicago last season, hasn’t fared any better with Rockford either.
Accordingly, having a veteran netminder around for another year or two makes some sense for GM Kyle Davidson. It seems that his preference for now is that Mrazek continues to be that veteran option, a desire that appears to be mutual.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Well since the Hawks are on the trend of paying 2x what a player is worth to circumvent the cap floor, I bet he gets a 2x$12mill.
You realize the league would step in if that was actually the case
They must want the 1st overall the next few years as well
I’m good with that!
Egads now this is going to far. Just be happy that he’s playing well in his walk year so maybe you can get something for the money you’ve wasted on him already. I actually heard Dickinson is complaining that he only got 2 years. Kind of like Bellinger who had 1 good year out of the last 3 and wants a 10 year deal. Just say no Kyle. Learn to say no. I can live with Soderblom and Weeks or Stauber for the rest of this year. Then trade for a Goalie on a short deal. Not like you don’t have any draft picks and there are no Goalies people want to dump.
I’m good with a short term deal, 1 or 2 years at 3-3.5 AAV. Get rid of Soder and bring up Drew so he can start working with Jimmy Waite.
Drew is already working with Jimmy Waite. He’s in Rockford not Siberia. It’s a 1 hour drive away. Drew is a victim of the Hawks having to play Musical Chairs at Rockford. When all the Defensemen were called up his ave % plummeted. It’s not a mystery.
That’s good! Siberia is really cold this time of year.