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Detroit Red Wings sign Petr Mrazek to two-year deal

By Dave Stevenson

Jan 20, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Red Wings goalie Petr Mrazek (34) attempts to make a save during the second period against the St. Louis Blues at Joe Louis Arena. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 20, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Red Wings goalie Petr Mrazek (34) attempts to make a save during the second period against the St. Louis Blues at Joe Louis Arena. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
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Restricted free agent goaltender Petr Mrazek has avoided arbitration with the Detroit Red Wings by signing a two-year deal worth $8 million.

Arguably the most important question the Detroit Red Wings had to answer this offseason involved their goaltending tandem of Petr Mrazek and Jimmy Howard. Could the Red Wings sustain a reasonably priced tandem or would they be forced to trade Howard? The Red Wings have answered that question for the time being, signing Mrazek to a two-year bridge deal that will give him a $4 million cap hit.

Overall, a two-year deal was the right decision for the Red Wings. They did not have the cap space for a long-term deal with Mrazek. Even if they did, Mrazek has yet to prove he can handle an everyday job. He appeared in 54 games last season, but it was his first season appearing in more than 30 games. A two-year deal gives Mrazek a chance to improve and allows the Red Wings to further evaluate him at a very reasonable price.

Now that the Red Wings have finished their arbitration cases, they must deal with the elephants in the room. The first one? Salary cap. They are currently over the salary cap, with LTIR moves, which leaves them with roughly $100,000 depending on who they send down and call up. With 17 forwards on their NHL roster, they will be sending down forwards.

Xavier Ouellet will likely be their seventh defenseman. Even though Andreas Athanasiou is a forward who they would love to have in Detroit, he will likely have to start the season in the AHL since he is one of their very few waiver-exempt forwards. Red Wings general manager Ken Holland has backed the Red Wings into a very narrow corner as far as cap space. He might not be there long enough to get them out of it.

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