Ondrej Pavelec Injury Update: Connor Hellebuyck Called-Up
By Ryan Ritchie
Ondrej Pavelec Injury Opens Door For Future Jets Tandem
News broke Sunday about the Ondrej Pavelec injury, with Winnipeg announcing that Connor Hellebuyck would be called up to play number two behind Michael Hutchinson.
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On Monday, NHL.com released the extent and timetable for Pavelec. Coach Paul Maurice has deemed it a “significant knee sprain” that is expected to keep him out through the entire month of December.
"The Winnipeg Jets placed goaltender Ondrej Pavelec on injured reserve Monday with what coach Paul Maurice called a significant knee sprain that will keep him out through at least December.Pavelec sustained the injury in the second period of the Jets’ 3-2 win against the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday after a collision with Coyotes captain Shane Doan.Doan was pushed by Jets defenseman Mark Stuart before crashing into Pavelec."
Apr 11, 2015; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck (30) prior to the game against the Calgary Flames at MTS Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports
Hellebuyck is 2-7-1 with a 2.45 GAA and .927 save percentage so far with Manitoba (reminiscent of Cory Schneider‘s numbers with New Jersey last season). In 2014-15 with Winnipeg’s old AHL affiliate St.John’s, Connor went 28-22-5 with a 2.58 GAA and .921 save percentage. Hellebuyck also represented Team USA at last spring’s World Championships, playing eight games, posting a 1.37 GAA and .948 save percentage. The United States claimed bronze medal honors, while Connor walked away with numerous awards. He won four awards (WC All-Star Team, WC Best GAA, WC Best Save Percentage, WC Top 3 Player on Team).
Winnipeg’s newly appointed starter Michael Hutchinson broke into the NHL in 2014-15, going 21-10-5 with a 2.39 GAA and .914 save percentage. Michael got off to a hot-start his rookie season, but managed to cool off as the season drew longer. In 2015-16, Hutchinson and Pavelec started off hot, looking like a strong 1/1A combo. But both recently delivered a few ugly performance, which laid a beating to their excellent early numbers.
The New 1/1A Look After the Ondrej Pavelec Injury
When all is done, the Ondrej Pavelec Injury could go down as a blessing in disguise. Connor Hellebuyck was never going to get his shot at NHL action without an injury to one of two goalteners. His recent successes suggest he has the potential to be a quality 1 or 1A type goaltender, as fans still attempt to figure out what Michael Hutchinson is.
Pavelec carries a $3.9 million dollar cap hit that could go a long way to helping re-sign players such as Dustin Byfuglien and Andrew Ladd. It may even be the difference maker between acquiring Travis Hamonic. Winnipeg simply needs to know whether their two young goaltenders can carry the load. Although, after Pavelec’s inability to carry Winnipeg past the first round in 2014-15 should be evidence enough to move on. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to move on from a guy who’s paid his dues with terrible Atlanta Thrashers teams, who’s also coming off a career-best season. It’s a difficult truth Jets fan will need to learn to accept, but Ondrej Pavelec won’t help win you a Stanley Cup.
Next: Buffalo Sabres Prospect Brycen Martin
What do you think Jets fans? What do you need to see from these two young goaltenders to have enough confidence to move forward with them? The Ondrej Pavelec injury is expected to keep him sidelined for at least a month, but which team might be interested in acquiring his services upon return? Concerns or thoughts about this recent news? Let us know what you think below.