Jets sign Hutchinson, lose Jokinen

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This article was published 02/07/2014 (4415 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Jets didn’t have to look too far to find a replacement for goaltender Al Montoya.

One day after Montoya signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Florida Panthers, the team announced they have agreed to terms with goaltender Michael Hutchinson on a two-year contract worth $1.15 million. He’ll be asked to push incumbent No. 1 starter Ondrej Pavelec next season.

Hutchinson’s story last season was especially compelling. After being cut adrift by the Boston Bruins, he signed with the Jets thinking there was opportunity for him within the organization. He played for the team’s ECHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign, starred with the St. John’s IceCaps in helping lead them to the Calder Cup final and, in between, started three games for the Jets, going 2-1 with a 1.64 goals against average and .943 save percentage.

The Jets also have agreed to terms with defenceman Will O’Neill on a one-year, two-way contract worth $575,000.

O’Neill, a 26-year-old Salem, Mass., product originally drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers in the seventh round, 210th overall, in the 2006 NHL Draft, played in 68 games with the IceCaps last season registering 36 points (9G, 27A). He was particularly effective in the playoffs, adding 16 points (3G, 13A) in 18 post-season games.

Meanwhile, centre Olli Jokinen is now a former Jet, having signed a one-year deal with the Nashville Predators worth $2.5 million.

 

34 – Michael Hutchinson

Goalie

Born Mar 2 1990 — Barrie, ON

Height 6.03 — Weight 192 — Shoots R

Selected by Boston Bruins round 3 #77 overall 2008 NHL Entry Draft

 

Season Team Lge GP Min GA EN SO GAA W L T Svs Pct

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2006-07 Barrie Colts OHL 14 768 27 1 0 2.11 8 3 0 379 0.934

2007-08 Barrie Colts OHL 32 1826 92 0 1 3.02 12 15 4 950 0.912

2008-09 Barrie Colts OHL 38 2146 108 2 5 3.02 15 20 1 1157 0.915

2009-10 London Knights OHL 46 2667 127 3 3 2.86 32 12 2 1339 0.913

2010-11 Providence Bruins AHL 28 1476 77 1 1 3.13 13 10 1 723 0.904

2010-11 Reading Royals ECHL 18 1049 50 3 1 2.86 9 5 4 560 0.918

2011-12 Providence Bruins AHL 29 1680 66 6 3 2.36 13 14 1 843 0.927

2011-12 Reading Royals ECHL 2 120 7 0 0 3.50 1 1 0 75 0.915

2012-13 Providence Bruins AHL 30 1749 67 5 3 2.30 13 13 3 711 0.914

2013-14 Ontario Reign ECHL 28 1671 58 2 3 2.08 22 4 2 679 0.921

2013-14 St. John’s IceCaps AHL 24 1383 53 2 3 2.30 17 5 1 634 0.923

2013-14 Winnipeg Jets NHL 3 183 5 0 0 1.64 2 1 0 83 0.943

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