Watch CBS News

No Decision Yet On Whether Mrazek Will Go Back To Grand Rapids

By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak

CBS DETROIT - Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said Friday that the organization has yet to make a decision on whether 22-year-old goaltender Petr Mrazek, who filled in as the starter while Jimmy Howard was out with a groin injury, will return to Grand Rapids now that both Howard and backup Jonas Gustavsson have returned.

Mrazek, who turns 23 on Saturday, will stick around for at least one more game, backing up Howard in Saturday's game against the Winnipeg Jets. Gustavsson, who suffered a dislocated shoulder Nov. 5, has played only three games this season. With Mrazek in net, the Red Wings had won nine of their last 10 games before Wednesday's loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Head coach Mike Babcock would not speculate on how the goaltender situation could shake out.

"Just day to day," Babcock said. "Howie's starting."

The coach agreed that Mrazek would benefit more from playing with the Grand Rapids Griffins than he would from only practicing with the Red Wings, but like Holland, he indicated the organization has some decisions to make.

"I think he's got to play, for sure, but let's just get our goaltending situation sorted out here," Babcock said, "and then we'll decide what we're doing."

Mrazek has a record of 13-5-1 and a goals against average of 2.55 with the Red Wings this season. Mrazek had played so well that Babcock gave him the start Wednesday even though Howard was available. Mrazek was pulled from the game after two periods, but Babcock said the lopsided loss - the Penguins won by three goals - could have been worse if not for Mrazek.

While Mrazek has hit a few rough patches in his time as the starter, his teammates have offered nothing but compliments about the young player who began the season as the third-string goaltender.

"It proves that he can do it," defenseman Niklas Kronwall said. "He can handle the pressure. Like you said, even in here, we knew he was a great goalie, but you never really find out until somebody's put in that situation, have to do it on a nightly basis. He deserved all the credit that he got, and he's playing great for us, and he's one of the reasons why we're at where we're at in the standings right now. So good for him, and of course, a good sign, too, that the organization once again has done some great scouting and developing in the minors.

"When they're ready," Kronwall added, "they're ready."

Kronwall said he and his teammates saw signs of Mrazek's ability even when the opportunities for him to play were few and far between. Now that Mrazek has had the chance to start multiple games in a row, the players know for sure what they had already suspected.

"He's proven that he belongs here," Kronwall said.

"You just notice by how he approaches the game," Kronwall added. "He wants more. He's not happy to just be here. He wants to play more, and I think that's a great sign for this organization."

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.