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Detroit files for arbitration with Mrazek

Petr Mrazek

Detroit Red Wings goalie Petr Mrazek (34), of the Czech Republic, makes a save on shot by the Tampa Bay Lightning during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2016, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

AP

On Tuesday, Red Wings goalie Petr Mrazek opted not to file for salary arbitration.

On Wednesday, his team decided to.

Per MLive:

The sides will continue negotiations on a new contract in an effort to avoid the hearing in Toronto. Arbitration hearings take place between July 20 and Aug. 4.

If the sides go to arbitration, Mrazek can ask for a one- or two-year contract.

If they agree to a deal before the hearing it likely will be two or four years, possibly for between $4 million and $5 million a season.

Mrazek played last year on a $737,500 deal and, given what he accomplished, figures to be in line for a pretty hefty raise.

The 24-year-old supplanted Jimmy Howard as the club’s No. 1 netminder and, for a time, was in conversation for a Vezina nomination.

Though he did struggle down the stretch and briefly relinquished the starting gig to Howard, Mrazek ended the year as Detroit’s No. 1 and finished with good numbers -- 27-16-3 record, .921 save percentage, 2.33 GAA and four shutouts.

Mrazek has some pretty good leverage in negotiations. He’s clearly the team’s goalie of the future, and GM Ken Holland could be forced to deal Howard (and his $5.29 million cap hit) sooner rather than later.

If that happens, Detroit would be left with just Mrazek and Jared Coreau in goal, and Coreau is completely untested at the NHL level.