Thrashers, Pavelec agree to two-year deal

By Chris Vivlamore

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Thrashers signed goaltender Ondrej Pavelec to a two-year contract worth $2.3 million Thursday.

The deal will pay Pavelec $1 million this season and $1.3 million in 2011-12.

Pavelec, 22, completed his first full NHL season with the Thrashers. He entered the offseason as a restricted free agent and received a qualifying offer in June.

An English translation from the Czech website idens.cz quoted Pavelec on Thursday as saying: “This corresponds to my performance. I’m quite happy it turned out according to my expectations.”

Pavelec’s agent, Allan Walsh, later confirmed the agreement via Twitter. The Thrashers announced the signing Thursday afternoon.

Pavelec appeared in 42 games for the Thrashers last season. He had a 14-18-7 record with two shutouts, a 3.29 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage. He acknowledged after the season that he lost confidence early, especially after a stretch in which he was pulled twice in three games in December.

“I learned a lot from this season,” Pavelec said after the season. “I had a couple of tough games, but you have to fight through it.”

Pavelec played for the Czech Republic at the 2010 Winter Olympics and the World Championships, where he was part of the gold medal-winning team.

For the next two seasons, the Thrashers figure to have a goaltending tandem of Pavelec and Chris Mason, who signed July 1 for two years at $3.7 million.

“I want to stay here,” Pavelec said after the season. “I really like it here -- the fans, the city, the people. I would be happy if I could stay here.”