The Malik Report

Updated at 10:13 AM: Petr Mrazek returned to the Czech Republic on Thursday, and he promptly gave 2 interviews, one to iDnes and one to iSport. They're extremely similar in terms of content, so while Czech is a particularly problematic language to try to translate, the differences get smoothed out to a large degree by the reader's (your) ability to compare and contrast the takes of Karel Knap and Miroslav Horak, respectively.

What follows are very rough translations of said interviews, starting with his chat with iDnes's Karel Knap:

The World Cup should be played with Czech-Slovakia, joked Mrazek with Tatar Two thirds of the season shone, then NHL goalie Petr Mrazek experienced a minor crisis. Yet he took a further step toward the stars in 2015-16. Now he waits for negotiations with Detroit to begin on a new contract that could make him the clear leader on the Red Wings. "We're addressing the coaching change, over time you will hear and see," said Mrazek yesterday after his return to Czech. Even in February Mrazek was one of the most serious candidates for the Vezina Trophy as the best goalie in the NHL. After his 3-1 win over Ottawa his stats included a 1.94 goals-against average and a 93.4% save percentage. But then he fell ill after returning, he was changed several times, the team faltered...His numbers broke down to 2.33 and 92.1% (still excellent). "During each long season a crisis comes," Mrazek says, looking back. "I took two antibiotics and I wanted to be back as soon as possible. If I could do it again, I probably would have rested more to get a chance to return in better shape." Still, you can assess another year in the NHL positively, right? "I went into it with the fact that I'd fight with Howard to lead in goal. I think I managed it, so I can be happy. But we had a sorry playoff in which we fell in the first round." How do you develop your relationship with Jimmy Howard? "We proceed as professionals. This has been asked of me by many journalists during the season. Do we go out for coffee, no, but we respect each other." Does nervousness from your competition transfer to the team? "I don't think so. We're both prepared for our own games. When I'm not in, I focused on my next chance." Is it a lot different then when you were living with him as a rookie? "Yeah, it's been three years. I was with him for a couple of days before they sent me to the farm team. Now it would be special." Does he wish you success? "You'll have to ask him. But I think he wants it. When the team is doing well, it helps us goaltenders. Wins are important." The playoffs began with Howard as the leading goalie. Did you feel that you improved from a season ago when you got the net in the series with Tampa? "Yeah, I was glad I got in. It's too bad that we didn't rally from our 2-0 deficit. The fourth game in Detroit was decisive, where we gave up a goal two minutes before overtime." The team ended its relationship with Jim Bedard after many years. What does this mean for you? "Jimmy Howard had the better position with him. They were on good terms. With him I was purely professionally-based. I heard that the guy who coached me on the farm [Jeff Salajko] could replace Bedard. If that's so, I will be happy. We'll build on our cooperation from Grand Rapids." After falling from the Stanley Cup playoffs, you were excused from the World Cup. Did it take you long to decide "I asked a lot of guys who play overseas in Europe. I was interested in their opinion. What they would do in my place. I was interested in representing, I wanted to be with the guys. But I have the chance to sign a long-term contract, so I decided not to go." As you look to extend your contract? "Manager Kenny Holland is now changing coaches and must resolve some problems on the team. And then I'll hear." You could sign a short-term bridge contract or a longer one, maybe six years. What would make you more attracted to the second option? "It's always good to have a long-term contract. In the NHL, you never know what will happen. It depends on what the team will do with Jimmy Howard. Let's see if it replaces him." Why haven't you had time after the last game? "We do interviews and various meetings with the management and players. After a few days in Detroit I flew to see my girlfriend Sarah. She played in a tournament in beach volleyball, the America's Cup in Alabama. So I went to her to watch for four days. Perhaps we'll go on vacation somewhere, but early in June I want to start training." Do you have to adjust your preparation for September's World Cup? "It's a little different. The season ended a little earlier and the season starts a little earlier next year, so it evens out. I won't change much. On condition I'll work with Martin Horyl for the eighth consecutive year. The Czechs aren't among the favorites. You'll rely on a lot of overseas professionals. Where do you stand? "In the NHL the last beats the first and it may be the same in the World Cup. It starts from zero. When you demonstrate a good collective performance, anything can happen." Some time ago you starred in the Under-20 World Championship. Do hockey tournaments suit you? "It depends on my current form. Perhaps if it's scheduled well we'll succeed. Tournaments are really special. We'll play in Toronto, where the fans are crazy. They're already buying tickets and jerseys. The event will be in great demand." How do you like the invention of teams for the rest of Europe and the Under-23 North American selection team "I thought with Tomas Tatar (Slovakian forward) that we should make it Czech-Slovakia. It would be more interesting than Europe. Tomas acknowledged that the Slovaks would have a hard time building a strong team. Europe will be strong, they'll have Anze Kopitar. But we'll see if this proves to be news."

And we'll continue with Mrazek's interview with iSport's Miroslav Horak:

Mrazek about the World Championship: "I asked others what they would do in my place" One of the jewels of Czech hockey is home. Export goods of the highest quality, Petr Mrazek flew this afternoon from the United States to Prague. Summer is in Pern. Goalie agent Robert Spalenka of Sport Invest company will negotiate a new contract for the Detroit mainstay in the NHL, and after a short rest comes preparation for next season, and the World Cup in Toronto... Last year, except for a minor hiccup due to illness, you came out great. How do you rate yourself "I went into the season believing that I'll fight with Jimmy Howard for the leader of the crease, and I think I was successful so I can be happy. But we had a sorry playoff, which we failed (at the end of the first round with Tampa)." At one point, you were even a serious candidate for the Vezina Trophy as the best goaltender of the league, but then you were out-stripped by others... "The season is long, and every goalie, if you look at their statistics, has a small crisis. So I was sick, I took two antibiotics and I wanted to be back as soon as possible. I would have, however, rather taken more rest than getting back into the net as soon as possible." What did you do after the season? "I didn't miss much, after elimination, we had another five or six days off, then interviews followed, various meetings and meetings with coaches and the team, so I was in Detroit for a few days. Then I flew to Alabama for my girlfriend Sarah, where she played at the American volleyball championship. We'll see if we go anywhere on vacation, because I want to start training in the beginning of June." Are you watching the World Championship from a distance "I know that the guys have won all their games, but the trouble is that in America it doesn't take the World Championship too seriously, it's not even broadcast on TV, so I just watched the results." You had to decline the championship because of the absence of a new contract with Detroit. How long did you consider participating before making the final decision? "I talked about it with a lot of people. The guys who play overseas, and also in the Extraliga and the KHL. I asked what their opinion was of what they would do. I was interested in representing Czech, I would love to go with the guys, but this is my first contract that could be long-term. So I decided not to go. And then I didn't reconsider. I decided I wouldn't change anything." What does your future look like in Detroit, and what can it look like? "The team said that I will hear from Kenny Holland, now he's deciding who to change, they didn't extend, for example, the contract of their goaltending coach, and sent an assistant coach away, so they're dealing with management more and will address the players afterward." Would you like a short or really long-term contract better? "It's always good to have a long-term contract. It's the NHL, but you never know. We'll see what happens during these few months, as I said, they've got other problems. Pavel Datsyuk has to decide and if necessary trade Howard at the draft. Everything will depend on that." Regarding Jimmy Howard, you've got to deal with the fact that the team has a contract with him for two more seasons. How is your relationship? "A lot of journalists in the NHL asked me this during the season. We have a professional relationship. We probably wouldn't go out for coffee together, but we respect each other. There's no nervousness that would be transmitted to the locker room." You're considered the #1 goalie for the World Cup. How do you take that? "It's still far away. Neuvy (Michal Neuvirth) played well at the end of the season, there's Ondrej Pavelec. Just to get to the World Cup is great and we'll see what happens. There are three games and you never know who starts." Overseas there are some sneers regarding the positions of your defensemen, how do you perceive them? "If you look at today's NHL, the last can beat the first, and I believe it will be the same at teh World Cup. It starts from zero. I wasn't looking who was playing in defense or at forward, and if we demonstrate good collective performance, anything can happen. It's about your current performance, so hopefully it will be scheduled well and we'll succeed. Tournaments are special. We'll play in Toronto, where fans are crazy and buy tickets and jerseys. It will be very interesting." What do you think about the cast of the tournament, instead of some classic participants there are collections of European and North American under-23 players? "I talked with Tomas Tatar (teammate), they should make Czechoslovakia. It would be more interesting than Europe. But Tomas himself said that the Slovaks would have a hard time building a team."

Update: You don't usually get an addendum that includes comments from the player's agent regarding contract negotiations, but that's what Sport.cz's Marek Burkert adds to the mix:

Mrazek's agent, Robert Spalenka, on the new contract: "It will depend on what Detroit is able to accomplish in terms of its finances and the salary cap. Datsyuk's leaving, and they'll have to deal with his contract, which is high. Then we'll see what happens with Jimmy Howard during the summer. For us there are two options: either a short-term contract for two years, until Howard's contract expires. Or a long-term contract that would result in longer negotiations, but we don't know yet because Detroit's still resolving its finances." "Petr has out-performed other goalies with whom he can be compared. We've managed to adhere to the plan regarding our negotiations. We will set the length of our individual contract. We're at the right place at the right time. We will wait until Detroit pores over its issues, and we can move where needed."



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