Jets place Pavelec on waivers, turn to young tandem of Hutchison and Hellebuyck

WINNIPEG – The Winnipeg Jets have placed veteran goaltender Ondrej Pavelec on waivers with the intent on sending him to the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League.

Pavelec is entering the final year of a five-year deal which was et to pay him US$4.75 million this season, with a cap hit of $3.9 million.

The native of Kladno, Czech Republic, made 33 appearances with the Jets last season, posting a 13-13-3 record with a 2.78 goals-against average and a .904 save percentage.

The Jets will go with the young goaltending tandem of Connor Hellebuyck and Michael Hutchinson next season.

Hellebuyck is on a two-way contract and could have been sent to the Moose without having to clear waivers, but he in considered the future in goal for the Jets. His play as a rookie last season (13-11-0, 2.34 GAA, .918 save percentage) and more recently with Team North America at the World Cup of Hockey made him too valuable to leave out of the equation.

Pavelec has spent his entire NHL career with the Atlanta/Winnipeg franchise. He was selected in the second round, 41st overall, by the Thrashers in 2005.

He has a career 148-154-47 record with 17 shutouts, a 2.85 GAA and .907 save percentage over nine seasons with the Jets/Thrashers franchise.

The Jets also placed forward Anthony Peluso and defencemen Julian Melchiori and Brian Strait on waivers and sent forwards Andrew Capp, Marko Dano, Chase De Leo and Nic Petan to Manitoba.