Blackhawks Player Grades: Petr Mrazek

The Chicago Blackhawks still have a lot of questions on the roster, especially when looking beyond the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons. Once such position is goalie. Prospects Drew Commesso and Adam Gajan wait in the developmental wings, but someone needs to hold down the fort at the NHL level. The team signed Laurent Brossoit this season to split time in net with our next player grade.

Petr Mrazek arrived in Chicago during the 2023 NHL Draft as a part of a salary dump . The Toronto Maple Leafs needed to create space and were willing to deal Mrazek and his $3.8 million cap hit over two additional seasons. Enter the Blackhawks, who received a late first-round pick with Mrazek from the Leafs, which became defenseman Sam Rinzel.

Mrazek's first season in Chicago was horrendous. The veteran posted a 3.66 GAA over 39 games and stopped pucks at an .894 clip. Mrazek felt like anything but the answer in Chicago after his first season, and many fans were ready for him to fall off the books after the 2023-24 season. However, Mrazek did something that was unexpected from the struggling netminder.

Story of the Season

Following a season full of injuries and underwhelming performances, Mrazek was once again penciled in as the starting goalie for the Blackhawks. However, it felt like the team was hoping youngster Arvid Soderblom would ultimately take over the roll by season's end. Instead, Mrazek played really well, often keeping the Blackhawks in games, and held on to his starting position.

Mrazek owned a 3.05 GAA and .908 save percentage in 56 games. Although those numbers are far from his seasons with Carolina and Detroit, Mrazek was playing behind a Swiss Cheese defense and posted respectable starter numbers. As a result, the Czech goalie was rewarded with a two-year, $4.25 million AAV contract to remain with the Blackhawks as the stopgap between the present and the future in net.

Player Grades

Jonnie Nonnie's Grade: B

HEY PETR! The Blackhawks have a nice placeholder goalie in Petr Mrazek. Injuries have plagued the veteran netminder throughout his career, but he stayed healthy in 2023-24 and posted decent numbers, including his best save percentage since 2018-19. Considering how often the Blackhawks got hemmed in their own zone this past season, I was impressed with how well Mrazek handled the onslaught of opponents' scoring chances.

Tony Marchese's Grade: C+

I will likely come in with the lowest grade on this panel for Petr Mrazek, however, I will preface that with the fact that he wholeheartedly outperformed expectations in 2023-24. For that reason, he will be back in net for the Blackhawks again next season courtesy of a two-year extension after carrying the Blackhawks goaltending tandem on his back.

While Mrazek's play was leaps and bounds above what was on display by Arvid Soderblom, he still had his struggles at times. Going forward, Mrazek will likely split time in net with a better defense in front of him. If he can remain healthy, that is a solid development for the Blackhawks goaltending over the next two seasons, even if he finds himself in more of a backup role.

Ron Luce's Grade: B-

Following a brutal first season in Chicago, Petr Mrazek performed admirably and stayed healthy behind a really inconsistent defense for the Hawks. Originally a player that many fans were prepared to bid ado, Mrazek flipped the script on his Blackhawks tenure through his admirable performance and a brand new, two-year extension. This season, Mrazek should be splitting time with Laurent Brossoit. If he can repeat, or marginally improve, his performance from last year, the Hawks will notice an improvement in the standings.

What's On Tap Next?

Entering the 2024-25 season, Mrazek will be expected to split time with the newly acquired Laurent Brossoit. Unfortunately for the Hawks' newcomer, Brossoit underwent knee surgery . His season will start later than expected. Although he should be returning around the start of the regular season, Brossoit will surely need time to get up to speed after the rest period for the injury, meaning Mrazek will see a healthy dose of action early in the campaign.

Tell us if you agree with our grades! What would you give Petr Mrazek? Let us know at @FourFeathersPod on X and Instagram !

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