Detroit Red Wings trade Petr Mrazek to Philadelphia Flyers
By Zac Snyder
A week ahead of the 2018 NHL trade deadline, the Detroit Red Wings have begun their sell-off by trading goaltender Petr Mrazek to the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Detroit Red Wings have gotten a jump start on the 2018 trade deadline, agreeing tonight to a deal to send goalie Petr Mrazek to the Philadelphia Flyers.
The team announced the deal on twitter, including the return from the Flyers of a a conditional fourth round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft and a conditional third round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft. The Athletic’s Craig Custance adds that the Red Wings will retain some of Mrazek’s salary in the deal.
The 2018 NFL trade deadline is February 26.
UPDATE: The Detroit #RedWings have traded G Petr Mrazek to the Philadelphia Flyers for a conditional 4th round pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft and a conditional 3rd round pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. pic.twitter.com/nTR27IOfLM
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) February 20, 2018
The Flyers have been linked to Mrazek going back to last week when they reportedly balked at the chance to make a deal for a third round pick. The Flyers now have injury concerns at goalie and the two sides were able to get a deal done.
UPDATE: TSN’s Bob McKenzie has the conditions:
DET guaranteed no less than a 4th round for Mrazek. If PHI makes playoffs and Mrazek wins 5 games for PHI in reg season, 4th becomes a 3rd. If PHI advances to CF, and Mrazek wins six playoff games, the 3rd becomes a 2nd. If PHI re-signs him next season, DET gets PHI 3rd in 19.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) February 20, 2018
If it is true the Flyers could have had Mrazek for just a third-round pick last week then this might look like a win. However, it’s hard to believe the Red Wings are anything near selling high in this situation. They were able to find a needy buyer in the Flyers but two mid-round picks is a light return for a player who once looked like he could be one of the game’s bright young netminders.
Still, the Red Wings could have lost Mrazek for nothing because they left him unprotected in last summer’s expansion draft. Perhaps his perceived value was never as high as his actual value with other general managers.
Mrazek will be a free agent after the season. It just remains to be seen if he will be restricted or unrestricted depending on if the Flyers decide to tender him an offer to keep him restricted. Current thought is the Flyers won’t be willing to tender an offer, leaving Mrazek free find a new home for the 2018-19 season. He’ll now have a chance to showcase himself in a more competitive environment than he had in Detroit. The Flyers currently occupy the third playoff spot out of the Metropolitan Division and are six points clear in the wild card standings should their playoff hopes come to that.
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The Red Wings, meanwhile, are seven points out of the last wild card spot but would need to not only make up the points but jump five teams in the process. So close, yet so far away. After seeing their playoff streak snapped last season, the Red Wings are facing the start of a less pleasant streak. With that being the case, Mrazek won’t be the only Red Wing making his exit over the next week.