The Jets have signed backup goaltender Michael Hutchinson to a two year deal, the team announced. The deal will carry a cap hit of $1.15MM. According to CapFriendly, it is a one-way deal worth $1MM the first year and $1.3MM the second.
Last season, the 26 year old played in 30 games with Winnipeg, posting a 9-15-3 record with a 2.83 GAA and a .907 SV%. Those numbers were down from his career averages, a 2.53 GAA and a .912 SV% in 71 career NHL contests.
Winnipeg has a bit of a goaltending logjam on their hands as things stand for next season. Ondrej Pavelec has one year left on his contract at $3.9MM while prospect Connor Hellebuyck showed last year that he’s ready for regular NHL duty, posting a 2.35 GAA and a ,918 SV% while filling in for the injured Pavelec last season. However, Hellebuyck is still exempt from waivers so barring a Pavelec trade, it would seem likely that he will be AHL-bound to start next season.