The Nashville Predators have re-signed pending RFA Marek Mazanec to a one-year, two-way contract. Mazanec will make $575,000 playing in the NHL, and $100,000 in the AHL.
The deal will bring him back for at least one more season, where he can get plenty of time in Milwaukee while trying to crack the NHL roster. Magnus Hellberg, also an RFA, has yet to be re-signed.
More later.
Nashville, Tenn. (May 6, 2015) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced Wednesday that the club has signed goaltender Marek Mazanec (MAIR-ehk muh-ZAN-ehk) to a one-year, two-way contract worth $575,000 at the NHL level and $100,000 at the AHL level for the 2015-16 season.
Mazanec, 23 (7/18/91), played his second full season in North America in 2014-15, posting a 2.26 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage in two appearances with the Predators during the month of January, and an 18-18-9 record with four shutouts, a 2.76 goals-against average and a .900 save percentage in 48 appearances for Nashville’s primary developmental affiliate, the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals.
Nashville’s ninth choice, 179th overall (sixth round), in the 2012 Entry Draft, played the fifth-most minutes of any rookie NHL netminder (1,369:32) in 2013-14, appearing in 25 contests for the Predators and being named the NHL’s Rookie of the Month for November 2013 after going 5-4-1 with two shutouts, a 2.00 goals-against average and a .933 save percentage. The 6-4, 194-pound Mazanec also ranked second among AHL rookie goaltenders, and 10th overall, in point percentage after posting an 18-10-3 record (.629, min. 700 minutes) in 2013-14.
In his final season in the Czech League in 2012-13, he led Plzen to its first title by stopping 48-of-51 shots in a Game Seven double-OT victory in the league final. He ranked fourth in 2013 playoff goals-against average (2.13) and sixth in save percentage (.932), in addition to tying for second in shutouts (2). During the 2012-13 regular season, the Pisek, Czech Republic, native ranked sixth in the Czech Extraliga in goals-against average (2.49).