| STORIES |
- Saturday, June 26, 2010: Czech stopper Mrazek ‘competes’
- Wednesday, September 15, 2010: Smith looks to shake ‘bad apple’ rap
- Monday, September 20, 2010: Mursak on deck for NHL duty
- Wednesday, December 15, 2010: Elder Filppula fantastic on farm
- Wednesday, March 16, 2011: Mrazek keeps getting better in OHL
- Wednesday, March 23, 2011: Memorial Cup chase begins
- Wednesday, April 6, 2011: Larsson still needs ‘another step up’
- Wednesday, December 21, 2011: Emerging Jensen explodes for rare hat trick
- Tuesday, January 3, 2012: Red Wings prospects grab WJC spotlight
- Wednesday, January 11, 2012: Quine’s quickness shines in Peterborough
- Monday, May 7, 2012: Impressive season sends rising Mrazek to pros
- Wednesday, December 19, 2012: Paterson puts himself in the spotlight
- Wednesday, January 23, 2013: Productive Sproul shines brightly in CHL
- Wednesday, January 30, 2013: Shades of Edler in Red Wings’ Backman
- Wednesday, February 13, 2013: Pulkkinen lighting the lamp once again
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| AWARDS |
- 2009-10 OHL Dinty Moore Trophy (top rookie goals-against average)
- 2009-10 OHL Second All-Rookie Team
- 2009-10 OHL top save percentage (.920)
- 2010-11 OHL Third All-Star Team
- 2011-12 IIHF World Junior Championship Directorate Top Goaltender
- 2011-12 IIHF World Junior Championship All-Star Team
- 2011-12 IIHF World Junior Championship (Top Three Player, Czech Republic)
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| HISTORY |
2008-09
- Split season with Vitkovice under-18 and -20 teams.
- Posted outstanding numbers in 41 starts (combined 2.14 GAA, .939 Sv%).
- Selected in the first round (30th overall) by Ottawa in the CHL import draft.
|
2009-10
- Represented Czech Republic at Ivan Hlinka under-18 tournament in August.
- Came to North America and broke in as an OHL rookie with Ottawa.
- Started 30 games (12-9-1) as a backup to third-year stopper Chris Perugini (46 starts).
- Led all rookies in GAA (3.00), Sv% (.905) and shutouts (3).
- When Perugini faltered in the first round of the playoffs, Mrazek took over.
- Took team to second round, going 4-4 with a sparking 2.39 GAA and .928 Sv%.
|
2010-11
- Took over OHL starting job with Ottawa after trade of veteran Chris Perugini.
- Posted sensational numbers, going 33-15-3 with 2.84 GAA, .920 Sv% and four shutouts.
- Among OHL leaders in Sv% (first), saves (second), shutouts (T2), wins (third) and GAA (fifth).
- Sensational shootout numbers: Stopped 14 of 17 attempts (.824).
- Left off Czech WJC roster because of contractual dispute with his former team, HC Vitkovice.
- Struggled in four-game, first-round playoff exit (5.64 GAA, .868 Sv%) to 34-point underdog Sudbury.
- Signed AHL amateur tryout with Grand Rapids but didn’t see any minutes.
|
2011-12:
- Signed three-year entry-level contract with Red Wings in October.
- Returned to OHL for third season with Ottawa and led team to second-place conference finish.
- Posted tremendous numbers, going 30-13-6 with 2.84 GAA and .917 Sv%.
- Tied for third in OHL in wins and was eighth in save percentage.
- Led OHL with 5-2 shootout record, stopping 31 of 39 shootout attempts.
- Made headlines at mid-season for his show-stopping performances and gaudy celebrations at WJC.
- Led Czechs to 5-2 round-robin win over USA at WJC with 52-save performance.
- Made 43 saves in a heart-breaking 2-1 overtime loss to Russia in the quarter-finals.
- Named WJC’s top goaltender and a tournament all-star selection.
- Helped Ottawa advance to OHL’s Final Four in post-season (9-8 record, 2.59 GAA, .926 Sv%).
- Made 36 or more saves on eight different occasions in OHL playoffs, including two 44-save wins.
- Earned Czech Republic’s third goaltending spot at IIHF world championship in Finland.
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| SCOUT COMMENTS |
|
“He’s not huge in the net but by the way he competes, he plays bigger than what he is. He’s got real good athleticism, he moves well post-to-post and he never gives up on any shots. If you’re not that big and you move quick and can read the play well as he does, it makes up for size.” — Red Wings scout Joe McDonnell (June 2010) … “He amazes me sometimes with his quickness. He makes the impossible seem so easy. He never gives up on a play. He will forever make that big save. I can remember maybe a bad goal or two. But I can’t remember a bad game.” — Ottawa 67′s general manager Brian Kilrea (April 2011, Ottawa Citizen) … “The bigger the games, the bigger he plays. He loves the crowds, he loves the pressure. He never gives up on any saves, he never gives up on any pucks, and he has all the qualities to be really successful later on.” — Red Wings director of player development Jiri Fischer (January 2012, The Hockey News) … “He really handles the puck well. That makes it easy for the D. The other thing I liked about him is he didn’t generate second chances for them. The puck wasn’t coming off him. It was soft. It was under control. Good for the kid. It’s not an easy league to play in. St. Louis is a real good team. To me, he was really composed. I thought he was excellent for us.” — Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock on Mrazek’s NHL debut (February 2013, MLive.com).
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| STRENGTHS |
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No. 1 asset in the Red Wings’ eyes is his competitiveness … Never gives up on a play, either battling for a sight line or diving with a last-ditch effort to stop a puck … Lightning quickness … Acrobatic and athletic … Especially strong down low and makes effective use of his pads … Improbable, highlight-reel saves are commonplace for Mrazek … Tremendous focus and confidence, key assets for a goalie … Plays the game with fire and enthusiasm, and is not shy about showing his emotions … Has played some of his best hockey in high-pressure situations.
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| WEAKNESSES |
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Relies more on reflexes and quickness than positioning and can get caught … Unorthodox style is risky and not everyone can be Dominik Hasek … Leaves openings high … Showy celebrations are natural for Mrazek, but they can backfire by firing up his opponents … Smaller goaltenders are suddenly becoming obsolete, and while Mrazek is no Chris Osgood, he has below-average size.
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| PROJECTION |
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Mrazek was already an outstanding prospect coming into 2011-12, but after a highlight-filled season, he’s no longer a secret. His tremendous play for the Ottawa 67’s and at the IIHF world junior championship vaulted him to the top of the Red Wings’ prospect list and leave him as the organization’s next hope as goaltender of the future. Already signed to a three-year entry-level contract, he’ll battle against Thomas McCollum and Jordan Pearce for a spot in the AHL with Grand Rapids in 2012-13.
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Player statistics powered by www.eliteprospects.com
| Season |
Team |
League |
GP |
GAA |
SVS% |
|
Playoffs |
GP |
GAA |
SVS% |
| 2006-2007 |
HC Vitkovice U18 |
Czech U18 |
23 |
2.40 |
.924 |
| |
Playoffs |
9 |
1.85 |
.942 |
| |
HC Frydek-Mistek U18 |
Czech U18 2 |
4 |
1.50 |
.912 |
| |
|
|
|
|
| 2007-2008 |
HC Vitkovice U18 |
Czech U18 |
34 |
2.46 |
.932 |
| |
Playoffs |
3 |
2.68 |
.928 |
| |
HC Vitkovice |
Czech |
0 |
- |
- |
| |
Relegation |
1 |
10.00 |
.800 |
| |
Czech Republic U16 (all) |
International-Jr |
4 |
2.27 |
.839 |
| |
|
|
|
|
| 2008-2009 |
HC Vitkovice U18 |
Czech U18 |
28 |
1.99 |
.946 |
| |
Playoffs |
4 |
0.93 |
.972 |
| |
HC Vitkovice U20 |
Czech U20 |
13 |
2.49 |
.924 |
| |
Playoffs |
1 |
1.00 |
.967 |
| |
Czech Republic U17 (all) |
International-Jr |
5 |
0.86 |
.973 |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
Czech Republic U18 |
WJC-18 |
0 |
- |
- |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
Czech Republic U18 (all) |
International-Jr |
3 |
4.50 |
.899 |
| |
|
|
|
|
| 2009-2010 |
Ottawa 67′s |
OHL |
30 |
3.00 |
.905 |
| |
Playoffs |
8 |
2.39 |
.928 |
| |
Czech Republic U18 (all) |
International-Jr |
4 |
2.00 |
.938 |
| |
|
|
|
|
| 2010-2011 |
Ottawa 67′s |
OHL |
52 |
2.84 |
.920 |
| |
Playoffs |
4 |
5.63 |
.868 |
| 2011-2012 |
Ottawa 67′s |
OHL |
50 |
2.84 |
.917 |
| |
Playoffs |
17 |
2.59 |
.926 |
| |
Czech Republic U20 |
WJC-20 |
6 |
2.49 |
.928 |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
Czech Republic U20 (all) |
International-Jr |
7 |
2.84 |
.912 |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
Czech Republic |
WC |
1 |
0.00 |
1.000 |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
Czech Republic (all) |
International |
1 |
0.00 |
1.000 |
| |
|
|
|
|
| 2012-2013 |
Toledo Walleye |
ECHL |
3 |
2.02 |
.944 |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
Grand Rapids Griffins |
AHL |
42 |
2.33 |
.916 |
| |
Playoffs |
12 |
2.09 |
.911 |
| |
Detroit Red Wings |
NHL |
2 |
2.02 |
.922 |
| |
|
|
|
|
| 2013-2014 |
Grand Rapids Griffins |
AHL |
- |
- |
- |
| |
|
|
|
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Player statistics © www.eliteprospects.com
