DETROIT - Petr Mrazek had been playing well since mid-January, but not good enough to persuade the Detroit Red Wings from retaining his rights beyond this season with a qualifying offer.
So rather than lose him for nothing, general manager Ken Holland got at least one draft pick, possibly two, for the once-promising goaltender whose career took a wrong turn a couple years ago.
The Red Wings could have waited to see how Mrazek played until the end of the season before deciding whether to make him a $4 million qualifying offer. But Holland said a decision needed to be made Monday, when the Philadelphia Flyers, whose top two goaltenders (Brian Elliott and Michal Neuvirth) are out for an extended time with injuries, came calling.