Negotiations were ‘business’ for Mrazek

DETROIT – The Red Wings and goalie Petr Mrazek avoided salary arbitration this week when the two sides struck an 11th hour deal minutes before the scheduled hearing was to begin Wednesday morning in Toronto.

“I don’t want to say I was surprised. It’s a business,” said Mrazek, in an exclusive phone interview from Toronto. “When it goes to arbitration it can be a little bit of personal things, but how I say, it’s all business. It could happen but you know, I respect (general manager Ken Holland), he gave me the chance in the NHL, so I wouldn’t take it personally if that happened. But it makes me happy that we ended up making a deal before.”

Mrazek and the Wings agreed on a two-year contract worth $8 million, which is still less than the nearly $5.3 million that Jimmy Howard is expected to receive in each of the next three seasons.

The Red Wings filed for arbitration in July after Mrazek wouldn’t budge from his $10 million demand for the next two campaigns. It’s reported that the Wings countered with $2.7 million per season followed by an offer of $3.15 million per season.

For Mrazek, 24, the off-season salary negotiations were a learning experience.

“It was the first time we talked about a one-two long-term deal, like two years, but my only one-way deal was one year before so it was a good experience,” he said. “I’m happy that we made a deal before the arbitration.”

Last season Mrazek pushed his way ahead of Howard to become the team’s No. 1 goaltender. Some speed bumps in his performance …

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