Veteran goaltender Ondrej Pavelec has agreed to terms with the Rangers to back up Henrik Lundqvist, the team announced Saturday.
The Rangers did not disclose terms of the contract, but a source said the deal was for one year and worth a reported $1.3 million.
The 29-year-old Czech, who has a career mark of 152-158-47, with a 2.87 goals-against-average and a .907 save percentage, replaces Antti Raanta, who played well with the Rangers for two seasons and was traded to Arizona with Derek Stepan last week in exchange for the No. 7 overall pick in the draft (Lias Andersson) and defenseman Anthony DeAngelo.
It is the first time in five seasons that the Rangers have a netminder with so much experience as a starter to be Lundqvist's understudy. Cam Talbot preceded Raanta.
With the Winnipeg Jets last season, Pavelec was 4-4 in eight starts as Connor Hellebuyck, 24, assumed the starting role. He was on injured reserve for about a month, starting in February, with a lower body injury, believed to be a knee issue, and spent time in the minors. Pavelec had a salary cap charge of $3.9 million per season on a five-year deal.
Pavelec, who is 6-foot-3, will be expected to start between 20 and 25 games. He won 21 or more games for five consecutive seasons, first with the Atlanta Thrashers, before arriving in Winnipeg.
