Mrázová Going Supernova

One of the most impressive performances of the inaugural PWHL season has come from a 31-year-old forward selected in the 8th round (44th overall) of the PWHL Draft. Czech national team star Kateřina Mrázová is the epitome of a crafty veteran, and with PWHL Ottawa she has applied her dexterity and experience to help turn Ottawa’s season around.

Mrázová now leads Ottawa with 17 points (6 goals and 11 assists) and is one of four skaters on the team with at least 10 points. That’s right, she has more points than Team Canada stars Brianne Jenner and Emily Clark and is outscoring young guns Gabbie Hughes and Daryl Watts. More impressively, the Czech forward is leading the PWHL in assists and is now tied for third in scoring.

What stands out the most about Mrázová’s production is her current hot streak. After failing to register a point in seven consecutive games — a streak that was snapped on Feb. 21 — Mrázová has been piling up points both at home and on the road. Across her last nine games, Mrázová has 14 points, and the majority of them have been primary. Clearly, something clicked for the former UMD Bulldog. This recent outburst of playdriving — she now has 13 primary points — has played a role in Ottawa climbing past PWHL Boston in the standings.

Ottawa would not be in the playoff picture right now without her.

As the league’s current top playmaker, Mrázová has seven primary assists — six of which have been earned at even strength — and has helped Jenner get back on the scoresheet after the captain had two goals in her first 15 GP. That alone is evidence of her value to PWHL Ottawa. Mrázová has set up three of Watts’ goals (all at evens) and three of Jenner’s goals with her ability to create, win pucks, and put linemates in scoring situations. This is something Mrázová has done everywhere she has played, and it is why she has proven to be a massive steal in the PWHL Draft.

Mrázová’s ability to pull strings and find skaters with shooting lanes in dangerous areas has sharpened the teeth of Ottawa’s power play. Currently, PWHL Ottawa has the top power play in the league (26.8%) and Mrázová’s fingerprints are all over it. Ottawa has 15 goals on the power play, and she shares the team league in scoring on the advantage with six points — level with Jenner.

On the power play, at even strength, on the puck, and off of it, Mrázová is playing like an All-Star for her newest team. Surely, she will be one of the most coveted free agents on the market after this season — she signed for one year on Nov. 7.

There is something fantastic about a European star shining this brightly playing for Canada’s capital city. For too long, the spotlight has lingered on the national team stars of North America. The emergence of the PWHL — the undisputed top league in the world — has pitched best against best. Inevitably, that will erode the bias of media and fans who so regularly undervalue talent on the other side of the ocean. There’s simply no denying Mrázová’s skill and impact on Ottawa. There’s no denying that she is one of the top forwards in the world.

Data courtesy of the PWHL and the author’s own tracking.