Carolina Hurricanes: The Rise, Fall, & Redemption of Petr Mrazek
![RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - APRIL 15: Petr Mrazek #34 of the Carolina Hurricanes watches the action against the Washington Capitals during the third period in Game Three of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at PNC Arena on April 15, 2019 in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Hurricanes won 5-0. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - APRIL 15: Petr Mrazek #34 of the Carolina Hurricanes watches the action against the Washington Capitals during the third period in Game Three of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at PNC Arena on April 15, 2019 in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Hurricanes won 5-0. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/8a877a876137e937678b3d4477b93e4e04300dd3bc554109f71a620887bb0b8d.jpg)
Grand Rapids Griffins and the first Detroit appearances
The 2012-13 regular season saw Petr Mrazek starting to play within the Detroit Red Wings development system. He logged a total of 45 games between the ECHL’s Tolledo Walleye (3 GP) and the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins (42 GP). During this span Petr would log a 23-16-2 record with a single shutout, a 2.33 GAA, and .916 SV%. He would go on to start all 24 playoff games.
It would be the first time the Griffins would win the AHL’s Calder Cup. Petr was instrumental, going 15-9-0 with four shutouts, a 2.31 GAA, and a .916 SV%. Three of his four shutouts were road wins, with the fourth in a 7-0 victory over the Houston Aeros. He ranked 1st in games played, 1st in wins, 3rd in GAA, 4th in SV%, 1st in shutouts, and 1st in time on ice.
Petr would get his first NHL start on February 7th, 2013 versus the St. Louis Blues. The Red Wings would defeat the Blues, 5-1. He would only appear in one other game during the 2012-13 NHL season. February 17th in Detroit’s loss to the Minnesota Wild in which he would have a 3.00 GAA and .875 SV%.
Petr would again play primarily in Grand Rapids in the 2013-14 season, where he would again shine. He would log 22 wins, 3 shutouts, record a 2.10 GAA, and a .924 SV% in 32 games with 1829:52 of ice time. He would also appear in nine games for Detroit, with six starts. He would record 2 shutouts, his only two wins that season, a 1.74 GAA, and .927 SV%.