The Carolina Hurricanes have their competition for starter Scott Darling. The team has signed young Petr Mrazek to a one-year, $1.5MM deal, per a team release.
Mrazek has proven to be an inconsistent commodity over the years. The 26-year-old netminder took the starting job away from Jimmy Howard in Detroit in the 2015-16 season with a 2.33 GAA and a .921 save percentage in 54 games, suggesting he was the long-term answer in Detroit. Unfortunately, the following year he struggled, posting a 3.02 GAA and a .901 save percentage in 50 appearances. While many suggested that the team defense was to blame, a bad attitude and poor work ethic were the reason why the Red Wings opted to protect the 34-year-old Howard over Mrazek in the expansion draft last year. Instead Vegas passed on Mrazek and the youngster continued to struggle in Detroit, putting up a 2.89 GAA and a .910 save percentage in 22 games before the team opted to pull the plug and trade him to Philadelphia at the trade deadline.
The Flyers, who desperately needed goaltending help, hoped he would succeed in Philadelphia and while he had some stellar moments, he struggled more often than not, putting up a 3.22 GAA and a .891 save percentage in 17 games for them. Philadelphia opted not to offer him a qualifying offer, which allowed him to hit the free agent market.
Carolina hopes that Mrazek can rebound and find his game as the team needs another goaltender to challenge Scott Darling, who also struggled last year in his first year as a starting goaltender. Darling finished with a 3.18 GAA and a .888 save percentage. The Hurricanes hope one of the two can fix their game.
That’s no competition
I like the signing. Hopefully Darling plays up to his contract. Saw them the other day and people weren’t lying when they said he lost 25lbs. He looks much more fit.
This gives Carolina the worst goalie pair in the league
I hate this worse than lima beans