Observations:

September 2017 — Mazanec and the Predators mutually agreed to void the one-year contract they agreed on July 21. The Czech native is heading to the KHL to play with HC Slovan Bratislava. After his rookie season of 2013-14, Mazanec played only six games with the Predators. With the emergence of Juuse Saros, there wasn’t much playing time to be shared behind the Finnish goalie duo of Pekka Rinne and Saros. Niko Salminen

November 2016 – On November 18, Mazanec got a chance to pull away in the race for the backup spot from Juuse Saros, when Pekka Rinne was nursing a lower-body injury. Unfortunately for him the Maple Leafs managed to score 6 times. In his 3 appearances this season, Mazanec has 5.45 GAA and .809 SV%. As long as Rinne is healthy, Mazanec wont get many starts. I believe the plan is to use Mazanec as the backup until Saros is ready to challenge for the backup and maybe even the starter spot somewhere in the future. Niko Salminen

March 2014 – The big, athletic, Czech goalender has transitioned over to North America rather seamlessly. He displays excellent speed and effort in the crease showing strong rebound control and an elite glove hand. Optimally, the Predators would have liked him to play an entire year in the AHL but with an injury to their main man, Pekka Rinne, and poor offering from Magnus Hellberg to start the season, Mazanec was thrown to the wolves of the NHL. In 25 games, he recorded a pair of shutouts and stabilized the team during a tough stretch of the season. Not only did he jump over Hellberg in the depth charts, but the team seems more confident to play him over pro vet Carter Hutton. He is closing in on playing a career high games in a single season and has seemed to lose some strength in his play as of late which may be concerning. He is certainly a bright light in the Nashville prospect system and around the league but he needs more conditioning. The 2014-15 season marks the final season for Mazanec on their entry-level deals and both should battle in camp. Expect another year or two of development in the AHL before he officially makes the NHL jump fulltime. Jumped on the scene very quickly and didn’t look out of place in the NHL. Has shown growth in both the mental and physical side of the game which could make him a very nice mid-level starter to own in his prime. Right handed catching goalies are rather rare, and they make very decent options when they make the NHL having a small advantage on shooters due to rarity and unfamiliar positioning looks. Jason Banks

Fantasy Outlook: C-

His NHL future is in doubt after he and Nashville cut ties and Mazanec joined the KHL.

Footage:

Nice highlight reel of Mazanec’s work this season.

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One of the best saves on the 2013-14 season:

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Mazanec with extra-effort saves:

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Circus save:

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