Steve Yzerman Trades Former Exceptional Status First Rounder to Western Conference in 3 Piece Deal
The Detroit Red Wings have traded Joe Veleno, a former first-round pick and exceptional status player, to the Blackhawks for Petr Mrazek and Craig Smith.
The Chicago Blackhawks traded goaltender Petr Mrazek and right winger Craig Smith to the Detroit Red Wings for right winger Joe Veleno, as reported by NHL insider Frank Seravalli.
Mrazek, 33, is 10-19-2 with a .890 save percentage and a 3.46 goals-against average this season. The 6-foot-2 netminder is in the first year of a two-year, $8.5 million deal ($4.25M AAV) and will be an unrestricted free agent in 2026.
Mrazek was originally drafted by Detroit in 2010 (141st overall) and has appeared in 392 NHL contests with the Red Wings, Flyers, Hurricanes, Maple Leafs, and Blackhawks, registering a .906 save percentage and 2.85 GAA.
He claimed gold with Czechia at the 2024 World Championship and bronze in 2012. The Blackhawks were said to be giving Mrazek away for free recently as they wanted to offload his contract.
Smith, 35, has nine goals and 16 points in 40 games this season. The 6-foot-1 center signed a one-year, $1 million contract with Chicago last summer and will be a free agent after the season.
Smith is a bronze medal winner with Team USA in 2013
Drafted 98th overall by Nashville in the 2009 draft, Smith has 220 goals and 450 points in 968 games with the Predators, Bruins, Capitals, Stars, and Blackhawks. He won bronze with Team USA at the 2013 World Championship.
Veleno, 25, has five goals and five assists in 56 games this season. The Montreal product, a first-round pick (30th overall) in 2018, has 35 goals and 74 points in 288 career NHL games with the Red Wings.
He was also granted exceptional status back in 2015 by Hockey Canada, which allowed him to play in the QMJHL at the age of 15.
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MARS 7 | 257 ANSWERS Steve Yzerman Trades Former Exceptional Status First Rounder to Western Conference in 3 Piece Deal Who won this trade? | ||
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| Detroit | 108 | 42 % |
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