The Blackhawks have locked up another veteran for a few more seasons, with Petr Mrazek inking a contract extension that will keep him in Chicago through the 2025-26 season.
News of the deal was first reported on Twitter by goalie-turned-reporter Kevin Weekes, with the team later confirming the extension:
It’s a modest raise for Mrazek, who was playing in the final year of the 3-year, $11.4 million ($3.8 million AAV) contract he signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs in July 2021. Mrazek was traded to Chicago a year later, with the Blackhawks sending a second-round pick to Toronto and picking up a first-rounder in return that became 2022 No. 25 overall pick Sam Rinzel.
Mrazek’s enjoyed a bit of a resurgence this season, with a .907 save percentage and 3.01 goals-against average. Not the prettiest numbers, of course, but that’s more a product of the lack of help in front of him. By Hockey Reference’s “goals saved above average” metric, Mrazek is at a 3.6, which is the first time he’s been on the positive side of the ledger since his 2020-21 season with the Carolina Hurricanes, which is why Toronto sought his services the following summer.
The contract for Mrazek follows similar ones recently doled out to Jason Dickinson and Nick Foligno, in that they’re mild overpays for short-term deals that will help get the Blackhawks near the salary cap floor while the rebuild continues. None of these three deals will affect any long-term plans in Chicago. Mrazek’s presence at the NHL level also allows more time for other goalies in the system such as Drew Commesso and Adam Gajan to work through their own developmental curves.
And while we’re here: other media reports from Wednesday have focused on a much different type of story:
Yes, there are two Blackhawks who were on that team, but whether or not they are one of the five players referenced in this report remains unknown. Should that news become Blackhawks news, we’ll have a separate post for it.