Petr Following Different Principles in Mrazek’s Red Wings Redux

In some ways, Petr Mrazek seems to be the same guy who previously spent six seasons stopping pucks for the Detroit Red Wings.

“He’s very easy going and I think someone that enjoys sitting down, talking with the guys,” said Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin, the only player left from Mrazek’s first Detroit tenure.

Then again, in many other ways, he is a completely different netminder.

And that’s a good thing.

Spending time in Philadelphia, Carolina, Toronto and Chicago, Mrazek was revamping his level of performance between the pipes.

Red Wings coach Todd McLellan is the first to admit that he’s no expert when it comes to goaltenders and goaltending. So he bows to those who are, and also to the members of the Detroit organization who were there when Mrazek first was playing for the team from 2012-18.

12 years after his NHL debut, Petr Mrazek is back where it all began. ❤️

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“I was listening to some of the people that had been around the organization when he was here earlier, about his maturity and his demeanor a little bit, how far he’s come, the activeness,” McLellan said. “I don’t even know if that’s a word, but the action, I guess you want to call it in the crease has calmed down a little bit.

“So really good feedback from people that knew him before. So good sign.”

The young Mrazek was a very athletic netminder. Sometimes, he would rely on his athleticism too much. While that led to some spectacular saves, it would also cause him to overplay shots and take himself out of position, exposing the net for easy second-chance goals.

Red Wings Mrazek Remodels Game

The Mrazek who is back in town at the age of 33 is a much more mature person and a much different style of netminder.

His movements in the net are calmer, quieter. He’s trying to let the puck come to him, rather than pursuing it.

“A lot of my game changed during, since I wasn’t here,” Mrazek admitted. “More calm now. I’m not all over the place like I used to be.

“So the technical part definitely grew on me during the years.”

První zápas, první výhra! Petr Mrázek zazářil při premiéře po návratu do Detroitu! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Y13KEHsAmZ

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A homecoming of sorts is also perhaps more sentimental than it might’ve been at an earlier stage of his career.

“First steps in NHL were here,” Mrazek said. “It wasn’t easy to leave this place, but that’s how the hockey world is. That’s how it works sometimes.

And to put (the Red Wings jersey) back on, it’s a privilege and I’m excited.”