Pending waivers, long-time starting Winnipeg Jets goaltender Ondrej Pavelec has been sent down to the Manitoba Moose along with seven skaters. Forwards Nic Petan, Andrew Copp, Anthony Peluso, Chase DeLeo and Marko Dano. Defencemen Brian Strait and Julian Melchiori have also been cut from the opening-night roster.This has been something Jets fans have been clamouring for for some time now. With the youth movement in full swing in Winnipeg, compounded by Pavelec's dwindling save percentage and increase in his goals against average, not to mention his $4 million cap hit; the Jets finally demoted their long-time go-to guy in net.
This will not be a permenent stay for Pavelec. Although he is being a total professional and is carrying himself as the team player he always has been, Pavelec will be called back when one of the young bucks taking his place falters. And it will happen. Micheal Hutchinson may stay in the show with the big club for the long haul, but Connor Hellebyuck will need some seasoning and isn't quite the saviour in goal everyone seems to be making him out to be. At least not in this early phase of the new season.
The wins should go up for the Manitoba Moose now that Pavelec is there. He surely is meant to be a mentor to Eric Comrie, the real goalie of the Jets future. Pavelec is not there to gain experience or to get himself back into game-shape. He's there because he's just not good enough to help the Winnipeg Jets achieve their goals. Pavelec may be draft fodder for the new, and as yet unnamed Las Vegas team. Come next June, don't expect Ondrej Pavelec to be employed in any way, shape or form by the Winnipeg Jets. His contract is up at the end of this season and with his $4 million and change salary, no other team wanted to claim him off waivers. If he doesn't go to Las Vegas, the next time you hear the name Ondrej Pavelec (if at all) it may be in the KHL, or the Czech elite league.
