The Winnipeg Jets re-upped with RFA goalie Michael Hutchinson on Tuesday, signing him to a two-year, $2.3 million extension with a $1.15M average annual cap hit.
Hutchinson, 26, gets a tidy raise with the deal -- he made $575,000 annually on his last one -- despite struggling through a sophomore slump in 2015-16. He went 9-15-3 with a .907 save percentage and 2.84 GAA, numbers well off his rookie totals -- though, to be fair, the Jets struggled across the board last season, and that may have been slightly reflective in Hutchinson’s numbers.
This deal will certainly make for an interesting dynamic in Winnipeg this season. Ondrej Pavelec is heading into the last of his lengthy deal (at $3.9M per) while Connor Hellebuyck, the club’s goalie of the future, got a taste of the NHL last season and could be back for another.
There’s a legitimate all three could compete for starts this season, which could be something to monitor. Rarely do three-headed goalie situations work -- or last long -- and there remains the possibility of Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff buying out Pavelec, and going with Hutchinson and Hellebuyck.
Hutch back. Lots of goalies in #nhljets org. Who is the No. 1 this season among biggest questions going to camp https://t.co/ScUgEpuipM
— gary lawless (@garylawless) June 21, 2016