Detroit — The Red Wings and Petr Mrazek agreed on a new two-year contract that will pay the goalie an average of $4 million per year and avoids what is often a caustic arbitration process.
The deal lands between the Wings’ opening bid that averaged $3 million per year, and Mrazek’s bid of $5 million. A two-year term was determined by the collective bargaining agreement and Mrazek’s request as a restricted free agent.
Saving $1 million means the club likely complies with the $73-million salary cap, if Johan Franzen, newly-acquired Joe Vitale and Teemu Pulkkinen are placed on long term injured reserve before the start of the season, which is likely.