Jets sign goaltender Michael Hutchinson to $1.15-million, two-year deal

WINNIPEG - The Winnipeg Jets have signed goaltender Michael Hutchinson to a US$1.15-million, two-year contract.

Hutchinson, a 24-year-old restricted free agent, will count $575,000 against the salary cap each season if he remains in the NHL.

The Barrie, Ont., native could be Ondrej Pavelec's backup next season if the Jets don't add a veteran.

The contract is two-way in 2014-15, meaning he'll have a different salary in the AHL, and one-way in 2015-16.

Hutchinson made his NHL debut April 7 and played three games for the Jets this past season. He went 2-1-0 with a 1.64 goals-against average and .943 save percentage. He helped the AHL's St. John's IceCaps to the Calder Cup final last month.

Hutchinson was originally a third-round pick of the Boston Bruins in 2008.