Goaltending Help Is on the Way for the Flyers

With injuries to Brian Elliott and Michal Neuvirth, the Flyers wasted no time in finding a competent goaltender.

General manager Ron Hextall acquired Petr Mrazek from the Detroit Red Wings late Monday night in exchange for a conditional fourth-round pick in 2018 and a conditional third-round pick in 2019. According to sources, the Flyers were also in discussions with Toronto regarding Calvin Pickard but ultimately settled for Mrazek.

"We're excited to have obtained Petr Mrazek. Petr is a proven NHL goaltender and given the situation we're in, we needed a proven goaltender and we got one," said Hextall. 

Hextall confirmed if the Flyers make the playoffs and Mrazek wins five regular season games, the 2018 fourth-round pick becomes a third rounder. If the Flyers advance to the Eastern Conference Finals and Mrazek wins six playoff games, the third-round pick then becomes a second rounder.

If the Flyers re-sign Mrazek for next season, then the Red Wings would also get the Flyers' third-round selection in 2019.

"Quite frankly when I look at this deal, I think it's a fair and reasonable deal for both sides," Hextall said. "If Petr performs, we pay more and Detroit gets more. I like the makeup of this deal. I think it's a fair deal and I think both teams got what they wanted."

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Hextall had reportedly turned down Mrazek for a third-round pick last week, according to Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press, but that was prior to Neuvirth's injury Sunday against the Rangers. Hextall also announced that Neuvirth is out "long-term" meaning weeks and not days, and quite possibly the remainder of the regular season.

As a backup to Jimmy Howard, Mrazek has appeared in 18 games this season with an 8-7-3 record, a 2.89 GAA and a .910 save percentage. In January, Mrazek posted back-to-back shutouts against the Blackhawks and the Devils before the Flyers snapped Mrazek's shutout streak at 145 minutes and five seconds in a 3-2 overtime loss. 

The Red Wings will retain half of Mrazek's $4 million salary in the deal, leaving the Flyers with a reasonable $2 million cap hit. He's a restricted free agent at the end of this season.

Since Dec. 4, the Flyers are 21-8-3 and have climbed up the Metropolitan Division standings where they're currently tied with the New Jersey Devils for third place with 70 points.

"This is a sign that our players have done a really good job," Hextall said. "They've worked extremely hard. We're in a tough situation. You lose your two goalies when you're fighting for a playoff spot and our players have worked hard for a long time now. I didn't feel like it was fair to not have a proven NHL goaltender for this team." 

Mrazek is expected to join the Flyers for Tuesday's morning skate.

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