Marek Mazanec

Mazanec started the 2016-17 season as the Predators’ No. 2 netminder, but he wasn't particularly sharp in four appearances, posting an 0-2-0 record along with a 4.72 GAA and .839 save percentage. That led to him packing his bags for AHL Milwaukee in December, where he posted middling stats over the remainder of the season; meanwhile, rookie Juuse Saros enjoyed much more success as the backup to Pekka Rinne, establishing himself as the Predators’ future between the pipes. With Saros having taken over Mazanec’s old gig, the Czech netminder is expected to open the upcoming season battling for the starting gig in the AHL after re-signing on a one-year, two-way contract in July.

Mazanec, who agreed to terms on a new one-year, two-way contract with the Predators in June, spent most of last season with AHL Milwaukee. He posted a respectable 19-5-0 record in the minors during the regular season, but was benched for much of the Admirals’ Calder Cup run in favor of Juuse Saros. Now that Carter Hutton – last year’s backup to regular starter Pekka Rinne – has signed with St. Louis, Mazanec may continue to battle it out with Saros this season as the Preds try to determine their No. 2 netminder. But unless Rinne suffers an injury, even winning the backup job won’t amount to a lot of playing time for Mazanec.

In January of last season, Mazanec was called up briefly by the Preds to back up Carter Hutton when regular starter Pekka Rinne went down with a sprained knee. Mazanec performed solidly in the two games in which he appeared, posting a 2.26 GAA and .915 save percentage, but otherwise spent the rest of the season putting up so-so numbers at AHL Milwaukee (18-18-0, 2.76 GAA, .900 save percentage). With Rinne signed long-term and Hutton having since emerged as a very capable backup, Mazanec figures to remain in the AHL for the foreseeable future, unless the Preds deal him to another team where his path to the NHL is more immediate.