The Detroit Red Wings have a skilled starting goaltender in Jimmy Howard and a good backup in Jonas Gustavsson, but they also have a talented youngster who plays for the Grand Rapids Griffins, the team's AHL affiliate.
Petr Mrazek is a talented young netminder who was drafted 141st overall (fifth round) in the 2010 draft.
He had a solid OHL career during which he compiled a 75-37-10 record with a .919 save percentage. Last season in the AHL, he posted a 23-16-2 record, .916 save percentage and 2.33 goals-against average.
So far in the preseason, Mrazek has looked sharp, and CapGeek.com indicates he only caries a $595,000 salary-cap charge.
At age 22, he is a potential heir to Howard's throne, so is there a chance he could steal the backup job from Gustavsson this season?
Mrazek appeared in nine NHL games in 2013-14, posting a record of 2-4-0 with a .927 save percentage and a 1.74 GAA. He was the backup to Gustavsson at times while Howard was out of the lineup due to injury.
Although he is probably good enough to be an NHL backup, it makes ...
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Article written by Tom Urtz Jr.