"Yeah, last year it was a tough season, [not] being healthy," Mrazek said July 27. "I was struggling all season long with injuries, so that's not what a player wants. But I feel really, really good right now. After the season I took time off, changed some things in the offseason workouts, was seeing different specialists, physios, chiropractors who showed me the way I should stay healthy."
He has two seasons remaining on a three-year, $11.4 million contract ($3.8 million average annual value) he signed with Toronto on July 28, 2021, and said he tried to take the trade in stride.
"Well, it's always difficult to hear that news and to be moved," Mrazek said. "But I see it as a business, as an opportunity for me to be healthy and to play a lot of games. That's all that matters. I will try to do as best I can to support the team and the fans and everything around. ... But the No. 1 thing for me is to stay healthy. I'm happy to be in Chicago and hopefully see a lot of games."
Selected by the Detroit Red Wings in the fifth round (No. 141) of the 2010 NHL Draft, Mrazek is 140-102-31 with a 2.64 GAA, .909 save percentage and 24 shutouts in 295 games (268 starts) with the Red Wings, Philadelphia Flyers, Carolina Hurricanes and Maple Leafs. He is 12-15 with a 2.43 GAA, .911 save percentage and five shutouts in 29 Stanley Cup Playoff games (28 starts).
It was the third trade the Blackhawks made Thursday. They sent forward Alex DeBrincat to the Ottawa Senators for the No. 7 (defenseman Kevin Korchinski) and No. 39 picks in the 2022 draft, and a third-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. Forward Kirby Dach was then traded to the Montreal Canadiens for the No. 13 (forward Frank Nazar) and No. 66 picks in the 2022 draft.
NHL.com staff writer Tracey Myers contributed to this report
