Speculation: Does anyone have 2nd thoughts/change of heart about Mrazek?

[ottomaddox]

What do you think?

Has your opinion changed since his signing?

Did you like this signing in the first place?

If you've changed your mind, why did you change your mind?

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[Jimmy Firecracker]

What could have possibly happened between his signing to today that would have someone change their mind?

 

[ottomaddox]

What could have possibly happened between his signing to today that would have someone change their mind?

Time to consider who he is and the circumstances of his signing.

 

[Duke16]

Pretty much the best possible realistic outcome for the Leafs. No asset cost (see how COL was backed into a corner to get Kuemper), and he signed one of the better value deals based on playing ability/contract mix

 

[makbeer]

Nothing has changed obviously. Still not happy to have a goalie who struggles with availability to tandem with our other goalie who struggles with availability.

 

[Aashir]

He’s also a goaltender who chokes in the playoffs. In their conference finals run, he had a sub .900 somehow. I have more faith in Campbell then I do him

 

[LeafsOHLRangers98]

He's still very meh for me. He can play well behind a good defense like ours but he isn't anything outstanding.

I track my own variation of a goaltending advanced stat that I call TruSv% (different from GSAA in the sense that it uses SA/60 compared to league average to adhust SV% and accounts for differences in HD/LD chances) and he hasn't been great the last few years.

 

[Racer88]

To be honest I don’t know anything about him. I’m hoping he will be ok but you never know.

 

[BudForLife]

I have to admit that I’m a little nervous about him… the fact
that Carolina let him go and then turned around and signed Freddie for more money
Hmmmmmmmmmm

 

[stanleyorbust]

I have to admit that I’m a little nervous about him… the fact
that Carolina let him go and then turned around and signed Freddie for more money
Hmmmmmmmmmm

they have different roles. Freddie is expected to be the undisputed #1 in Carolina.

The leafs have Campbell as #1 meaning that they were looking for a 1b.

Carolina has more to be nervous about this year.

 

[IceColdBear]

I didnt like the signing at the time becuase I was worried we wouldnt be able to add any forwards.

We were able to sign Bunting, Ritchie and Kase, which was better than I though with the cap we had left, so I feel a little better about it.

 

[LeafsOHLRangers98]

I have to admit that I’m a little nervous about him… the fact
that Carolina let him go and then turned around and signed Freddie for more money
Hmmmmmmmmmm

The contracts don't show it, but if healthy I expect Raanta to play significantly better than Freddie next year.

 

[gamer1035]

Would've rather we didn't commit 3 years to this dude. 1 year would've been fine.

 

[William Hylander]

Hes better than Freddy and thats good enough for me

 

[Racer88]

Would've rather we didn't commit 3 years to this dude. 1 year would've been fine.

Hey, it was Dubas negotiating so I’m just glad it wasn’t more.

 

[egd27]

Hes better than Freddy and thats good enough for me

We shall see, but I'm not convinced of that.

 

[Stephen]

I'm not going to excessively fanboy the Mrazek signing other than to say it's a mid budget solution for a platoon guy, who has shown the ability to get white hot, but also have health issues and consistency issues, and is somewhat below average height for a goalie - not unlike Jack Campbell.

But I am a big goalie fan in general and have heard Kevin Woodley from In Goal magazine talk about how Mrazek's play style is very well suited to the Leafs style of defense and types of chances given up. People tend to say "goalies are voodoo" but it is interesting for people in the know to dig a little deeper and offer up that behind the curtain analysis and provide a little rationale for why certain goalies fit better.

He also seems like a guy who likes the darker pads, so I hope he flashes a little bit of that Potvin style which we haven't seen in a long time.

 

[IPS]

I have to admit that I’m a little nervous about him… the fact
that Carolina let him go and then turned around and signed Freddie for more money
Hmmmmmmmmmm

It's the ultimate test to see just how well Dubas knows goalies. So far - he's gotten one right (Campbell) and a whole bunch wrong.

 

[Trapper]

It's the ultimate test to see just how well Dubas knows goalies. So far - he's gotten one right (Campbell) and a whole bunch wrong.

The jury is still out on Campbell. He’s played 86 career NHL games. Not enough to say he got it right. People act like Campbell has been some steady, yearly workhorse.
In contrast, Mrazek has played 275. Quite a different sample size.

 

[Buds17]

He's the goalie that's under contract beyond this coming season for the team. I'd say that certainly has a degree of importance to it.

 

[leaffaninvancouver]

I like having a capable option if Campbell is injured or falters. Andersen was a good goalie, but with his issues I prefer the cheaper option to split more starts as a 1B.

 

[TMLisSRYinGerman]

He made not 1 mistake yet and never put a foot wrong. Good start so far!

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Why would my opinion change when he hasn't played a game?

 

[ULF_55]

Why would my opinion change when he hasn't played a game?

Maybe the question should be rephrased into something like, "Now after your initial emotional overreaction to everything that happens with the team what is your reasoned thoughts on this signing?"

I thought he showed potential with the Wings, and hard to judge when playing on a good team compared to a bad team. Wings have been bad a long time, 'Canes good a long time.

 

[4thline]

In a vacuum I like the quality of and value of the signing.

But I don't like how it fits. IMO the better play was to show some faith in Campbell and signal that he's the lead guy in the platoon by going after a clearer 1B type (Riemer/Raanta) with corresponding contract, that's good for 30+ starts and could steal the net if Campbell falters, but is starting from the clear 2 spot. Right now we have more a duel situation with a lot of ambiguity, which essentially puts a floor on Campbell's salary demands and potentially sets this up as a 1 year tandem.