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With the news filtering out this morning from the Detroit Red Wings, including renderings of their new multi-use facility in the entertainment district near Comerica Park and Ford Field in downtown Detroit, Red Wings fans should be very excited at the prospect of a spanking, brand new home for the Winged Wheel. The facility is expected to open in the summer of 2017 in preparation of the 2017-18 NHL season, leaving three seasons remaining for the Red Wings at the Joe Louis Arena.
Oddly enough, my mind wandered to the Red Wing players we could see on the ice come October 2017 when they open their brand new arena. Specifically, one of the most intriguing areas to consider is who will be in goal.
Jimmy Howard will be 33 years of age and will have two years remaining on his contract with a cap hit of $5.29 million. Howard has been a workhorse for the Red Wings over the past 5 seasons, having played in just over 73% of the teams 376 regular season games during that span. Despite what most would consider a down year last season (including himself by his own admission), Howard is still slated to be the starter for the foreseeable future in Detroit and could very well take his place between the pipes on opening night at the Little Caesars Coliseum or whatever the name of the new Red Wings home will be in three years’ time.
With all that being said regarding Howard, Petr Mrazek is currently seen as the second brightest prospect within the current Wings organization (behind Anthony Mantha) and could very well get the starting nod on opening night. Mrazek will be 25 years of age and although he is again slated to be the starting goaltender this season in Grand Rapids of the AHL, all indications suggest he will be the full-time backup in Detroit by the 2015-16 NHL season. A 5th round selection by Detroit in 2010, Mrazek’s AHL work (Calder Cup win in 2013) along with his strong NHL performances in brief work (11 games played, 2 shutouts, .926 save percentage and 1.80 GAA) suggest the young Czech goaltender has the inside track on competing with Howard for that opening night assignment.
The lost man in the shuffle might be Detroit’s 1st round selection from 2008, Tom McCollum. After a horrific start to his professional career in Grand Rapids, McCollum has bounced back and revived his career with a fantastic campaign with the Griffins last season. Still only 24 years of age, the Red Wings last week re-signed McCollum to a one-year, two-way contract with Grand Rapids. Slated to be Mrazek’s understudy in Grand Rapids, he could once again see plenty of playing time similar to last season if injuries strike Howard or Detroit’s injury prone back-up, Jonas Gustavsson.
Although Mrazek has for the time being surpassed McCollum on the depth chart within the organization, continued progress and improvement from McCollum combined with another strong season could result in a Mrazek/McCollum tandem not being a ludicrous suggestion in Detroit come the 2017-18 NHL season. McCollum's numbers last year in the AHL (24-12-4, 2.30 GAA, .922 save %) were comparable to what Mrazek produced in Grand Rapids. If nothing else, retaining McCollum provides Detroit with greater depth within the organization and the opportunity to continue to monitor his progress to see if he deserves further chances to fulfill his first round draft pick potential. He could very well be a late bloomer who needed 2-3 seasons to mature before finding success at the professional level.
Despite Detroit’s long-term commitment made to Howard with a six-year contract in April 2013, much can change during three seasons. Perhaps Howard re-affirms his position atop the Red Wings’ goaltending totem pole during that time. Perhaps his play continues to slump as it did at times last season and management looks to move him to make room for the youngsters in the system. The most probable scenario is a Howard/Mrazek tandem given the fact Mrazek will still be young enough to not be signed to an expensive contract.
Regardless of who plays on opening night in 2017, the Red Wings appear to have several legitimate options going forward in goal for years to come.
mark.spizzirri@hockeybuzz.com
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