Blackhawks sign goaltender Petr Mrazek to two-year extension at $4.25 million AAV

This sets up the Blackhawks’ net for at least one more season, as Arvid Soderblom has one more year left on a two-year deal.

It is the second time in the Czechia native’s career that he has signed a contract with a similar cap hit. In July 2016, while as a member of the Detroit Red Wings, Mrazek signed a two-year contract worth $4 million a season. Half of that contract went to the Philadelphia Flyers when he was traded in February 2018.

Mrazek is in the final year of a three-year deal that he signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 2021 offseason, with a cap hit of $3.8 million. The contract changed hands when he, along with a 2022 first-round pick, was sent to the Blackhawks in July 2022.

It has been a roller coaster career for the 2010 fifth-round pick. From capturing the hearts of fans during the 2012 World Junior Championships, to helping the Red Wings’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins, win the Calder Cup in 2013, expectations were high when the former Ottawa 67 became a mainstay in the NHL.

Unfortunately, it has not quite panned out the way many thought. While he has had flashes of brilliance, particularly in the Carolina Hurricanes’ run in the 2020 playoffs, injuries and inconsistent play have plagued the 31-year-old puck stopper.

In his second full season with the Blackhawks, Mrazek is 12-17-1 with 3.01 goals-against average, a .907 save percentage and one shutout.

In 366 career appearances, he is 162-141-35 with a 2.78 GAA., a.907 SV% and 25 shutouts. In 29 playoff games, Mrazek is 12-15 with a 2.43 GAA, a .911 SV% and 5 shutouts.

Chicago (14-31-2) is last in the Central Division, tied with the San Jose Sharks for the worst record in the NHL. They are set to take on the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday night, the second game of their four-game trip through the northwest.