so bring him back next year? give him 7 million a year for 2 years. The reality is the money doesnt mean shit. The picks do.
Giving young players confidence? They are starting Soderblom every other game and will for the rest of the season. Hes the worst goalie in the NHL. They are trying to be the worst team in the NHL. Do you think if Mrazek gets hurt tomorrow somehow Korchinski Bedard and Vlasic will change as players in the long run?
Hes the most injury prone goalie in the league so others wont want him but we want him for two years as a security blanket. Your right dumb.
Fact is, with the style goalies play these days any of them could be injured at any time. Mrazek has had a tendency to get injured but he seems to be healthy again (knock on wood). ... and considering how busy he is literally every game with Hawks he has held up very well this season.
That said, would he be trade bait at the deadline, yes, but other teams would try and steal him. Unless a team was desperate and had exhausted all other options, they would not give up a 2nd rounder for a Mrazek.
Personally, I think having a reliable goaltender is one of the priorities for a rebuilding team whose young players now and in the future will need to have confidence in themselves as well as confidence in the guy between the pipes. Mrazek has often bailed out a teammate when the inevitable breakdowns occur.
Bottom line: A good signing, IMO.