Detroit Red Wings Could Use Petr Mrazek As Trade Bait

The Detroit Red wings have exceeded expectation this season. Their developing core of young players has progressed faster than expected and the Wings are playing great team hockey.  With the trade deadline just about a month away, the Red Wings find themselves in the enviable position of not having any glaring needs going down the stretch this season.

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The depth gives general manager Ken Holland the flexibility to jump on a good opportunity to improve the club without mortgaging the team’s future.

In the absence of Jimmy Howard the play of Petr Mrazek has shown the Red Wings have depth at goal tender as well.  Mrazak started the season in Grand Rapids and has filled in well after injuries to both Howard and #2 goaltender Jonas Gustavsson, both of whom are expected to play within next week.  If Howard and Gustavsson prove to be healthy Mrazek could be the perfect bait to obtain the scoring defenseman that eluded the team in the offseason.

Petr Mrazek is an impressive 12-4-1 with a 2.50 GAA for the Red Wings this season. He has struggled at times but has been given every chance to bounce back and hasn’t disappointed.  The game against Arizona on Saturday was the 10 consecutive start for Mrazek. For that stretch Mrazek has shown he has the stuff to be a #1 goaltender in the NHL.

Barring some sort of catastrophic injury event however, Marzek won’t get the opportunity to be regular starter in Detroit.  That could make him a prime candidate to be traded at the deadline.

A potential trade partner could be the Red Wings most recent opponent.  The Arizona Coyotes are rebuilding and a young up and coming goaltender like Mrazek would be a perfect fit for hockey in the desert.  Marzek’s manageable contract, age and considerable talent could make him a hot commodity for the Coyotes.

With Gustavsson already up from Grand Rapids and Jimmy Howard on the mend, Mrazek’s time in Detroit may be nearing an end. What happens to Mrazek after that will be something Wings fans will want to watch closely.