Young talent puts pressure on Pavs

Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 23/06/2015 (3727 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Not too long ago, Ondrej Pavelec packed up his goaltender pads for the summer following a season that ended with him earning fist-bumps and backslaps for his resiliency and perseverance.

Not only did the 27-year-old set career highs for goals-against average, save percentage and shutouts — three of those zeroes coming in the last week of the season when he helped his Winnipeg Jets secure that coveted playoff spot — he was also the club’s Masterton Trophy nominee and finished the spring as the No. 1 puck-stopper for the Czech Republic at the world championship right in his own backyard.

Funny thing about all that…

Despite essentially saving his career from bottoming out with a spectacular run in late March/early April, Pavelec can hardly afford to spend the off-season getting fat and sassy while reminiscing about the conclusion of the season that was. In fact, now more than at any time during his days in Winnipeg, he’ll have to prepare to open next season looking over his shoulder — both shoulders, in fact — at the prospects behind him on the organizational depth chart now charging hard for his job.

Two things about that:

1. Pavelec’s late-season run indicates he can deal with that, as he served up his best stretch of the ’14-15 season after having lost his starting job to Michael Hutchinson and surrendering that infamous Barret Jackman long-bomb goal in St. Louis.

2. As the Jets ready for this week’s draft, their goaltending pool is far, far deeper than it has ever been in their reincarnation.

Consider that when the Jets first arrived from Atlanta in 2011, Pavelec was the de facto starter, with veteran Chris Mason the clear-cut No. 2. Eddie Pasquale was the top goalie on the farm, and he was backed up by NHL vet David Aebischer. The prospects in the Jets’ system included Chris Carrozzi, Peter Mannino, Fredrik Petterson-Wentzel and 2011 draft pick Jason Kasdorf.

Aside from Kasdorf — who was part of the blockbuster Evander Kane/Zach Bogosian trade with Buffalo this winter and remains a legit prospect — it’s worth checking in on the men who were behind Pavelec four years ago:

• Mason played last year with the Augsburg Panthers in Germany.
• Aebischer spent three years in Switzerland after his one season in St. John’s and retired in January.
• Carrozzi suited up for five games last year with the University of New Brunswick.
• Pasquale, who was traded to Washington, missed the entire season after hip surgery.
• Mannino split time between Portland and Binghamton in the AHL.
• Petterson-Wentzel is still with Farjestads in Sweden.

That doesn’t exactly scream out internal competition or succession plan at the goaltender position, does it?

Interestingly, as good as Pavelec was in the sprint to the post-season, his numbers in the sweep by the Anaheim Ducks in the playoffs — a 3.73 goals-against average and .891 save percentage — only further fanned the anti-Ondrej debate in this town. In fact, the most talked-about goaltender in these parts this spring has been Connor Hellebuyck, who punctuated a solid season in St. John’s, his first as a pro, by being simply spectacular in leading the United States to a bronze medal at the worlds (beating Pavelec in the third-place game) and leading the tournament with a .948 save percentage and 1.37 GAA.

But the Jets’ net prospects don’t begin and end with Hellebuyck. Eric Comrie, a second-round pick in 2013, finished a solid junior career with the WHL’s Tri-City Americans and wore Canada’s colours at the world junior championships while Michigan Tech netminder Jamie Phillips, a seventh-round pick in 2012, had a bust-out campaign by going 28-9-2 and being a Mike Richter Award nominee.

In other words, where it was once Pavelec or bust, this franchise has some very real contenders — and still including Hutchinson — to challenge their No. 1 gun. The teeny-tiny sample size in the spring saw the big Czech respond to the push, and the Jets were far better for it.

What’s different now is the organization has some options in case he doesn’t answer again.

This is the fifth and final part in our Jets at the Draft series.

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPEdTait

GOALTENDERS: What’s in the Jets’ system:

THE JETS

— Ondrej Pavelec: Stopped a steady decline in his numbers over the last few years by throwing up solid totals, much of them augmented by a late-season surge. Still, as good as he was late, many doubt whether he is a true No. 1, and if his work in late March/early April was simply a blip or foreshadowing what might be ahead. His playoff numbers did little to quell that debate.

Pavelec FYI: Age: 27. 2014-15 numbers: GP: 50; W-L-T: 22-16-8; GAA: 2.28; save percentage: .920; shutouts: 5.

Contract: Two years remaining at $3.9 million.

— Michael Hutchinson: Was a rookie-of-the-year candidate up until the NHL All-Star Game, posting a 14-4-2 record with a .935 save percentage. But he started to fight the puck after that and lost the No. 1 job he had wrestled away from Pavelec. Finished with decent numbers, but was just 7-6-3 after that with a save percentage of .885. Played a vital role in helping the Jets this past season, but will look over HIS shoulder at Hellebuyck even more so than Pavelec.

Hutchinson FYI: Age: 25. 2014-15 numbers: GP: 38; W-L-T: 21-10-5; GAA: 2.39; save percentage: .914; shutouts: 2.

Contract: One year remaining at $575,000, then a restricted free agent.

 

TOP GOALTENDER

PROSPECT

Connor Hellebuyck, Manitoba Moose/Winnipeg Jets: Led the U.S. to a bronze medal at the world championship… was superb in his first pro season in St. John’s, backstopping a goal-challenged IceCaps team to 28 of their 32 wins… won the inaugural Mike Richter Award as the most outstanding goaltender in the NCAA in 2013-14 after leading the country in goals-against average (1.79) and save percentage (.941), finishing second with six shutouts and posting a record of 18-9-2 for the University of Massachusetts-Lowell… his career save percentage of .946 was the best in college hockey history, surpassing the .941 mark set by Ryan Miller of Michigan State (2000-02)… Finished his collegiate days with as many shutouts as losses — 12 — in his 53-game career.

 

THE ICECAPS

Connor Hellebuyck: No need to go into any other detail as his name is splashed all over this story. Was 28-22-5 with a 2.58 GAA average, .921 save percentage and six shutouts with St. John’s.

Petr Budaj: Acquired to give the organization some veteran depth, Budaj appeared in only 19 games for the IceCaps last season. Praised for his professionalism, there is no escaping his numbers: he was 0-9-6 for St. John’s with a 3.55 GAA and .888 save percentage. Now 32 and an unrestricted free agent, he will not be offered a contract to remain in the organization.

IN THE SYSTEM

Jussi Olkinuora, Ontario Reign (ECHL)/IceCaps: The Finnish prospect, now 24, appeared in 43 games with the Ontario Reign last year (27-9-6; 2.41 GAA, .916 save percentage) but now has his path to the bigs — let alone the AHL — blocked by Hellebuyck, Comrie and possibly Jamie Phillips. He is at the end of his entry-level contract, and the club has some decisions to make.

Eric Comrie, Tri-City Americans: Went 20-19-1 with a 2.87 GAA and .914 save percentage on a last-place Americans squad. Was 2-1-2 with a 2.27 GAA and .920 save percentage during a stint with St. John’s and was very solid as the No. 2 man in Canada’s gold-medal win at the world junior championship. Praised for his work ethic, one scout said he is so committed he is occasionally asked to dial it back a bit.

Jamie Phillips, Michigan Tech: Seventh-round pick in 2012 blossomed in his junior season, going 28-9-2 with a 1.74 GAA and .933 save percentage and six shutouts while being nominated for the Hobey Baker Award. Likely to return to college for his senior season, especially given the crowded situation in the Jets’ organizational crease.