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Winnipeg Jets: An Ondrej Pavelec Retirement Appreciation Post

By Kyle McCarthy

WINNIPEG, MB - JANUARY 21: Goaltender Ondrej Pavelec #31 of the Winnipeg Jets looks on during a third period stoppage in play against the St. Louis Blues at the MTS Centre on January 21, 2017 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Jets defeated the Blues 5-3. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images)
WINNIPEG, MB - JANUARY 21: Goaltender Ondrej Pavelec #31 of the Winnipeg Jets looks on during a third period stoppage in play against the St. Louis Blues at the MTS Centre on January 21, 2017 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Jets defeated the Blues 5-3. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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While he was no longer part of the Winnipeg Jets, they say goodbye to a long time friend today.

The Winnipeg Jets weren’t the Winnipeg Jets when they acquired Ondrej Pavelec. It was the 2005 NHL Draft, in Ottawa, and a generational talent in Sidney Crosby was the first pick.

But forty picks later, at 41 overall, the Atlanta Thrashers selected a Czech goaltender that they thought would lead their franchise for years.

In a way, they were right. In a way, Ondrej Pavelec never got the respect that he deserved. He had a seven season run as the starter for this franchise. Pavelec got a chance to play in 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 before becoming the starter in 2010.

Now, most people think Ondrej Pavelec wasn’t very good. And in a way, it’s hard to argue against that. His career high in save percentage was just .920 in 2014-2015, the only time they made the playoffs with him at the helm.

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Aside from that, he hit .914 once, and .910 in his 19 games with the blueshirts this past season. His career quality start percentage is just 46%, whereas roughly 53% is league average.

In 374 starts, 66 of them qualify as Really Bad Starts, which is not going to get my ™ because it’s actually a stat. It’s any start with a save percentage below .850. And he had that in 18% of his career starts.

But I’m not here to disparage the league’s most attractive goaltender (what a tandem he and Henrik Lundqvist made), as I remember him fondly. Pavelec was there to bring the Winnipeg Jets into the NHL.

He was there when they moved in 2011, already having been established. He was there when they got swept in the playoffs and, while he was a key cog in their downfall, it’s not all on him.

Pavelec never became the franchise goaltender the Jets/Thrashers had hoped. But he was the  franchise goaltender, for better or for worse. In their HockeyRef Franchise Index, Pavelec ranks as the third best Jet behind Ilya Kovalchuk and Dustin Byfuglien.

And yes, a lot of that is the time he put in. And yes, he’ll probably be soon overtaken by the likes of Blake Wheeler, Patrik Laine, Connor Hellebuyck and Mark Scheifele.

But right now, Ondrej Pavelec was the best goaltender the Jets ever had. He’s almost the only one they’ve ever had. What, you remember Kari Lehtonen? Barely.

I miss Pavelec. I love Hellebuyck and, by all accounts, he’s better, but I miss Pavelec. And I wish him the best in retirement. I knew his days as a starter were over. But hey, maybe legendary goaltending coach Benoit Allaire could resurrect his career as a backup.

After all, he’s got Henrik Lundqvist to his credit (not all of it, though), Antti Raanta, Cam Talbot. All of those dudes. Why not turn Ondrej Pavelec into a good backup?

Hey, if it worked out better (gotta pin some blame on the Rangers defense, honestly), Pavelec might be the backup instead of Laurent Brossoit right now.

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But again, maybe Ondrej Pavelec wanted to ride off into the sunset. And, you know, even though he didn’t have the most glamorous career, he did a lot for Winnipeg. And for that, we thank you, Ondrej. Enjoy retirement.

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