Wings call up McCollum, assign Mrazek to Grand Rapids

[jimmyemeryhunter 2,747]

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/red-wings-call-mccollum-send-down-mrazek-231020689--nhl.html

You gotta wonder if they're doing this to try to raise McCollum's trade value.

[brett 1,029]

most likely they dont want mrazek to ride the bench for 2+ months

[kliq 3,755]

Possibly, but my guess is because they don’t want to waste Mrazek warming up the bench. It wouldn’t surprise me if McCullum doesn’t play a game.

[number9 3,297]

most likely they dont want mrazek to ride the bench for 2+ months

This, and see if mccollum really has turned it around. former 1st rounder afterall.

[jimmyemeryhunter 2,747]

When's our next back to back?

[derblaueClaus 1,668]

6th and 7th December against the Rangers and the Hurricanes. Not much need for a backup in that regard.

[Euro_Twins 4,475]

McCollum has outplayed mrazek so far this year, and the wings need the win. They know what they have in mrazek even if he is in a slump. This will be McCollum's last chance to prove he is worth something. And if he performs well that leaves us with two solid prospect goalies, one can be traded in a package for something.

[Wheelchairsuperhero 1,453]

What was the point of calling up Mrazek in the first place then?

[jimmyemeryhunter 2,747]

I kind of hope he gets to start a game. I'd like to see him play.

A first round pick is a lot for no production at all.

Was he a hyped prospect coming into his draft year?

[Hockeymom1960 5,107]

What was the point of calling up Mrazek in the first place then?

I'm just guessing of course but Petr needs to play not sit and this is McCollum's last shot so maybe he is being showcased so we can get a d-man.

[The Greek 323]

I kind of hope he gets to start a game. I'd like to see him play.

A first round pick is a lot for no production at all.

Was he a hyped prospect coming into his draft year?

I'm pretty sure he was the highest rated goalie prospect in his draft.

[Wheelchairsuperhero 1,453]

I'm just guessing of course but Petr needs to play not sit and this is McCollum's last shot so maybe he is being showcased so we can get a d-man.

Yea I agree, and think you're right. I'm just wondering why we called up Petr in the first place if we were just going to call up McCollum anyway without ever playing Petr.

[VM1138 1,921]

McCollum has outplayed mrazek so far this year, and the wings need the win. They know what they have in mrazek even if he is in a slump. This will be McCollum's last chance to prove he is worth something. And if he performs well that leaves us with two solid prospect goalies, one can be traded in a package for something.

That has nothing to do with it. McCollum is done with the Wings. He'll never make the team as anything more than a third or fourth backup. What they're doing is sending Mrazek down to play some games while the Wings have 4 days off. Precisely because Mrazek is the future.

[krsmith17 7,191]

A lot of speculation. My bet is that this move was made just for this week. Mrazek will get the start down in Grand Rapids against Lake Erie on Wednesday and then they'll probably swap again, having McCollum get the start against Texas and Mrazek backing up Howard against Chicago on Friday... Who knows though...

McCollum was having a better start, but he has lost his last few as well. I highly doubt he is up to be showcased...

[DickieDunn 2,571]

Maybe they wanted to see Mrazek in some practices and now he can go to GR and play instead of sitting.

[number9 3,297]

That has nothing to do with it. McCollum is done with the Wings. He'll never make the team as anything more than a third or fourth backup. What they're doing is sending Mrazek down to play some games while the Wings have 4 days off. Precisely because Mrazek is the future.

Then why re-sign him? Why not sign a veteran journeyman, like MacDonald, who'd be more reliable in the NHL if injuries happened? You don't think they still have a shred of hope for him? Due to injury he was rushed into the NHL, and was utterly traumatized by that crazy defeat against STL. Last year he rebounded and is so far outplaying Mraz this year. This is a former 1st round pick with all the signs of a late bloomer. I'm not his biggest fan, but I think it's extremely wrong to completely write him off at this point.

A lot of speculation. My bet is that this move was made just for this week. Mrazek will get the start down in Grand Rapids against Lake Erie on Wednesday and then they'll probably swap again, having McCollum get the start against Texas and Mrazek backing up Howard against Chicago on Friday... Who knows though...

McCollum was having a better start, but he has lost his last few as well. I highly doubt he is up to be showcased...

I highly doubt they have any intention of showcasing him. A trade partner would have every excuse in the book not to return value for him. That's how his career has played out so far. If this is anything other then just to let Mraz play in GR, it's to see if Mccollum really does have potential as an NHL goalie. If Petr is the real deal we may have to trade Howard one of these years. If that's the case who's a potential backup? A rebounding Mccollum could be one.

[evilmrt 636]

Then why re-sign him? Why not sign a veteran journeyman, like MacDonald, who'd be more reliable in the NHL if injuries happened? You don't think they still have a shred of hope for him? Due to injury he was rushed into the NHL, and was utterly traumatized by that crazy defeat against STL. Last year he rebounded and is so far outplaying Mraz this year. This is a former 1st round pick with all the signs of a late bloomer. I'm not his biggest fan, but I think it's extremely wrong to completely write him off at this point.

I highly doubt they have any intention of showcasing him. A trade partner would have every excuse in the book not to return value for him. That's how his career has played out so far. If this is anything other then just to let Mraz play in GR, it's to see if Mccollum really does have potential as an NHL goalie. If Petr is the real deal we may have to trade Howard one of these years. If that's the case who's a potential backup? A rebounding Mccollum could be one.

He is still only 24...it is possible that he could develop into a backup goaltender. This team has seen more than its share of late bloomers.

[CMatt89 63]

Id play him 2 games in a row.

[FifeHockeyNut 57]

I'm pretty sure he was the highest rated goalie prospect in his draft.

He was however he was the second goalie to go the draft, Chet Pickard (Nashville) was taken 18th overall, McCollum was of course taken 30th

Edited November 11, 2014 by FifeHockeyNut

[Hockeymom1960 5,107]

All I am positive about is that we all know that we know nothing about what's going on.

[e_prime 1,936]

All I am positive about is that we all know that we know nothing about what's going on.

...but boy how we do love to speculate!!

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

Hopefully just trying to keep Mrazek fresh.

[StormJH1 231]

He's absolutely not "done" in the NHL at age 24. Goaltending doesn't work like that.

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=96573

He has 15 minutes in the NHL. Granted, they were 15 horrible minutes against the Blues, and it certainly would have helped if he looked as good as Mrazek did as a 20-year old. But the AHL track record has been pretty encouraging since then, and that was basically his team in GR last year.

I'm not saying Tom McCollum is an NHL goaltender. I'm saying that it's dumb to assume that he isn't based on one terrible performance where he didn't even play a full period, let alone a full game.

One of my favorite Twitter things ever, however, was the day it was reported that he was being released by the Wings, so all the bloggers opened the floodgates with every terrible Tom McCollum story they hadn't reported before, and then he was re-signed a few hours later. Haha.

[jimmyemeryhunter 2,747]

Mrazek recalled, McCollum sent back to grand rapids.

[Euro_Twins 4,475]

They are just rotating the goalies to play in gr. They want them to play and they won't play in Detroit.