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When the Atlanta Thrashers relocated to Winnipeg, most understood that the fan base would be there. Any team that is backed by that much support and new cash typically would like to please their fan base. In most situations, this means a reinvestment in the team, either with free agents, with facilities, or fan benefits.

The Jets did this by keeping their popular goaltender Ondrej Pavelec with a 5 year, 19.5 million dollar deal on Monday. Pavelec played well, but his near .500 record doesn’t look as good as one would hope. More pressing, the 2.91 GAA average Pavelec had. The Jets were near the bottom of the league in goals against. His save percentage was 35th among qualifying goalies in the league. If anything the reason his winning percentage had more to do with the Jets’ prolific offense than it did the netminder.

Still, I can appreciate a new team ensuring that a popular player will be sticking around. It’s too bad he didn’t add too much to the team.

Ice Insiders Chris Berry Interactive Chris Berry Interactive