Report: Poor attitude issues led to surprise expansion selection for one NHL team

When Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland released his list of protected players for the upcoming NHL Expansion Draft, it raised some eyebrows around the league. With his lone goalie selection, Holland elected to protect 33 year-old netminder Jimmy Howard over 25 year-old Petr Mrazek.

While it was hard to justify the decision, some fans made a case for Howard being the better goaltender in 2016-17 and had therefore earned the spot. However, there’s no question that Mrazek has a higher ceiling of potential and could be a good NHL goaltender if he is enabled the opportunity to work through his consistency issues. One Red Wings insider however, thinks the Wings decision hinged on another issue. 

Ansar Khan of MLive.com reports that a poor attitude, combined with a poor season for Mrazek was what ultimately did him in. Khan goes on to describe Mrazeks as having a “swagger and air of confidence” and that head coach Jeff Blashill is not of fan of such behaviour. 

Khan goes on to describe the situation with the club last offseason. Mrazek was expected to be the team’s starter for 2016-17, but Holland could not find a buyer on the market for Howard. According to Khan, Mrazek was not happy with this development and let the club know in “less-than-tactful terms”.

That’s all fine and well, but is it worth throwing the baby out with the bath water? Still a puzzling decision from the Wings.