Mrazek Back With Red Wings in Deal for Veleno

The Detroit Red Wings traded versatile 2018 first round pick Joe Veleno to the Chicago Blackhawks for goalie Petr Mrazek and forward Craig Smith.

Mrazek, 33, started his career with Detroit, playing for the Red Wings from 2012-2018. He has this season and next left on a contract paying him $4.25 million per season.

“In acquiring Petr Mrazek, we expect him to play games.” Detroit general manager Steve Yzerman said. “How many I’m not sure. It will be based on performance for all three guys.”

The Red Wings will keep three goalies on their roster. What the Red Wings like best about Mrazek is his competitiveness.

“One thing that is also attractive to us is that he signed for another season,” Yzerman said. “The goalie market now…looking into the summer, what goalies are signing for, the term and the dollar amount, what are options are today, and what are options might be in the offseason, we thought it was good insurance for us.”

Boiled down, the Red Wings have Cam Talbot and Mrazek now under contract for next season, and Alex Lyon will be a UFA this summer.

Veleno Value

Veleno hasn’t created the offensive impact the Red Wings hoped he would when they drafted him. But he skates well, generates 100-plus hits per season and did score 12 goals in 2023-24. He has only five goals this season.

The Red Wings did scratch him in Thursday’s 4-2 loss to the Utah Hockey League.

Moving Mrázek AND getting a youngish, former first-rounder forward under contract for another year is pretty nifty work for the Blackhawks.

— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) March 7, 2025

The Red Wings are 2-5-1 in their last eight, and Detroit has given up four or more goals in seven of its last nine games.  The team’s defensive work hasn’t been sharp during this period, but goaltending bears some responsibility.

Alex Lyon owns a 2.77 GAA, and .900 save percentage, while Cam Talbot is at 2.92 and .904. Mrazek’s numbers are worse (3.46, .890) but he has been playing for one of the worst teams. He has played performed better  than his numbers.

Smith, 35, is a five-time 20-plus goal scorer. He has nine goals in 40 games this season, meaning he’s close to a 20-goal pace. He’s on an expiring contract. The Blackhawks are Smith’s fifth NHL team. He started with the Nashville Predators and then played Boston, Washington and Dallas before landing in Chicago.