One of the issues the Thrashers will be dealing with this off-season…besides hiring a new head coach…is what to do about the backup goalkeeping position. Do they bring back Johan Hedberg for another season or is Ondrej Pavelec ready for that responsibility now?

Certainly Moose has shown himself to be a very serviceable number 2 man between the pipes, however the Swede recently turned 35-years of age and is a UFA this summer. This past season he ended up with a record of 14-15-0 with a 3.46 GAA and a .892 SV%.

Opie has looked very sharp all year in Chicago, finishing the regular season 33-16-3 with a 2.77 GAA and a .911 SV%. During the playoffs he has been outstanding, winning 11 of the 17 games he has started so far and is sporting a 2.18 GAA and .928 SV%. Two of those wins were shutouts.

As you will remember last fall when Kari went down for 6 weeks, Pavelec stepped in and performed admirably. He played in 7 games, starting 5, and went 3-3-0 with a 3.11 GAA and .905 SV%.

Ondrej will be 21 by the time this upcoming season begins. Some may say he needs another year to develop his game. To be honest, that’s what I believed at the end of the last season… but considering the numbers he is putting up this spring, I would say that he has shown he’s ready.

Speaking Of The Wolves

The Chicago Wolves were denied their bid to sweep the Toronto Marlies as they lost game four in Toronto by the score of 6-1. However, they still lead the series three games to one and will look to close things out Friday night at home.

Like Pavelec, Jason Krog is coming up big during the playoffs. So far he has 9 goals to go with 17 assists and is a +8 in 17 games played. Darren Haydar is second in scoring for the Wolves notching 7 goals with 11 helpers, and then there is Joel Kwiatkowski with 6 goals and 15 overall points.

Avs Coaching Vacancy Filled

Colorado has shown that they are hip with the “green” crowd concerning recycling…well at least when it comes to coaches. The club announced Thursday that Tony Granato will be back as head coach in Colorado, a position he held from 2002-2004. Granato had been behind the bench assisting Joel Quenneville the past few seasons.

It took Colorado 13 days to bring their coaching search full-circle after Quenneville left the organ-I-zation on May 9th.

Happy Memorial Day

I hope everyone has a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. If you are traveling, please be safe. Over the next few days I hope each and every one of you will take some time to remember and honor those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country and our liberties.

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