It is more often then not that teams find themselves searching for a goaltender to mind their net then deciding between two very capable goaltenders who bring their best to the goal. The Winnipeg Jets find themselves in this very scenario where they must choose between two solid goaltenders to find the one that can carry them deep into the NHL season. Is Ondrej Pavelec the goaltender that will carry this Jets team or is it the young Michael Hutchinson?
For most Winnipeg Jets fans the name Ondrej Pavelec is a common name. Pavelec had played for the Jets while they were in Atlanta and was the first starting goaltender for the newly revived Jets franchise. During the past 2014-2015 season we saw Ondrej Pavelec play in a total of 50 games going 22-16-8 with a GAA at a solid 2.28 and save percentage at .920. Pavelec was given the starting job during the playoff series with the Anaheim Ducks and did not perform well, not winning a single game and recording a GAA of 3.73 and a save percentage of .891. Pavelec’s postseason performance and the regular season performance of fellow goaltender Michael Hutchinson sparked the question of who should be holding the key to the Jets’ goal.
Michael Hutchinson had a rather breakout season for the Winnipeg Jets during the 2014-2015 season. Hutchinson played in 38 games going 21-10-5 with a GAA at 2.39 and a save percentage at .914. Hutchinson’s stats may have not been as good as Pavelec’s were, but they were impressive seeing that previously the most games he played for the Jets were 3 in 2013-2014. Hutchinson is 25 years of age and was drafted by the Boston Bruins in the third round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. So why should the young Hutch be given the keys to the Jets’ net?
Winnipeg Jets
Pavelec has been the starting goaltender for the Jets/Thrashers franchise since Kari Lehtonen’s departure in 2009-2010 and the only time the Jets/Thrashers have made the playoffs with him in the net was last season (never winning a playoff game). The fact that Pavelec has been the Jets’ starting goaltender for almost six years and they have yet to win a playoff game with him in net suggests that perhaps it is time to move on from him. If you look at Pavelec’s stats over the course of his career with the Jets/Thrashers you will see while he puts up solid numbers they are not Vezina numbers.
What is next for the Jets and Ondrej Pavelec? As of right now it would appear that it is Pavelec’s job to lose; however, it is a job he may lose easily. The Jets’ will not hesitate to turn to Hutch as their starting goaltender if Pavelec’s stats begin to falter. The Jets’ leadership also must see Pavelec as a valuable trade asset because he is a solid goaltender and they have a more then capable Hutch waiting in the wings. So if Pavelec is to falter a bit at the beginning of the season one would not be surprised to see the Jets turn toward Hutch or even trade Pavelec to get a player who could be instrumental to a long playoff run. When you place your bets on one player for as long as the Jets have on Pavelec when you don’t see impressive results you begin to question if you have been placing your bets on the wrong man all along.
What do you all think? Should the Jets continue to place their bets on Pavelec? Turn to Hutch? Or even trade Pavelec away? Comment below and join in on the discussion!
Next: Winnipeg Jets Need to Re-sign Andrew Ladd
More from Jets White Out
- How expansion and relocation around the league have affected the Winnipeg Jets
- 5 interesting Winnipeg Jets prospects to check out at the Young Stars Classic
- 3 takeaways from Adam Lowry being named captain
- What to think about Nikolaj Ehlers and his dynamic skill set?
- Winnipeg Jets name Adam Lowry team captain