Petr Mrázek and Craig Smith were at their first Detroit Red Wings practice on Sunday since being acquired Friday at the NHL trade deadline.

It’s been almost nine years since the Detroit Red Wings appeared in a playoff game. Petr Mrazek remembers it well because he was their goaltender that night in a 1-0 loss at Tampa Bay. Mrazek hasn’t appeared in a playoff game in four years and hasn’t been close to the postseason the past three years in Chicago.

General manager Steve Yzerman’s decision to acquire Petr Mrazek for this season and next doesn’t really change Grand Rapids Griffins goalie Sebastian Cossa’s path to the Detroit Red Wings. The plan was never to pencil in Cossa for next season.

Mrazek, who has one additional year on his contract at $4.25 million, heard his name as possible trade bait, but wasn't sure what to expect. While excited about rejoining the Wings, Mrazek does become part of a three-goaltender rotation with Lyon and Cam Talbot.

The Blackhawks recently acquired Spencer Knight from the Florida Panthers for defenseman Seth Jones, making Mrázek available. The veteran netminder has over 400 games of experience. This will be his second stint with Detroit. He also played for the Carolina Hurricanes and Toronto Maple Leafs.

DETROIT -- Both practicing with the Detroit Red Wings for the first time since being acquired via trade from the Chicago Blackhawks prior to the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline, Craig Smith and goalie Petr Mrazek are excited to help their new team push for a Stanley Cup Playoffs spot down the final stretch of the season.

Sebastian Cossa has made steady progress in each of the past two seasons with the Grand Rapids Griffins and was an AHL All-Star this year. But it seems the Detroit Red Wings don’t believe he’ll be NHL-ready next season.

Mrazek, 33, was a 2010 fifth-round draft pick of the Wings. He was traded to Philadelphia in 2018, he and went on to Carolina, Toronto and Chicago before being reacquired Friday by the Wings.

The Hockey Writers examines the trades the Detroit Red Wings completed before the deadline, plus other players that were targeted.

Petr Mrazek and Craig Smith—took part in their first practice since being traded to the team Friday. Both players were full participants in practice, with Smith slated to fold into the lineup for Monday's game in Ottawa against the Senators.