The Thrashers now have the deepest pool of goaltending talent in their system that they’ve ever had thanks to today’s news that they’ve signed OHL prospects Chris Carrozzi and Ed Pasquale to entry-level contracts.
Carrozzi was a sixth round pick (154th overall) in 2008 and earned OHL Goaltender of the Year honors this season while playing for the Mississauga St. Mike’s Majors. He posted a 19-10-5-5 record in the regular season to go along with a 2.36 GAA (2nd in the OHL) and .916 save percentage (5th in the OHL). In eight playoff games he had a record of 5-1-1, a 2.14 GAA (best in the OHL) and a sterling .928 save percentage (2nd in the OHL).
The only goaltender who may have been more clutch in the OHL playoffs was Ed Pasquale who led all OHL goalies with a .941 save percentage in the postseason. His playoff GAA of 2.33 was third but despite his stellar play Saginaw struggled to win games, resulting in him posting a playoff record of 2-3-1. In the regular season the Toronto native went 27-17-2-3 with a 3.17 GAA and .913 save percentage. He got better and better as the season progressed and earned Goalie of the week honors toward the end of the season. Pasquale was taken in the fourth round (117th overall) in last year’s draft.
Where the pair of goalies will fit in the organization remains to be seen. Both Thrashers goalies are free agents this summer (Pavelec is an RFA and Hedberg is a UFA) and what happens there will have a trickle-down effect. Chicago Wolves goalie Peter Mannino had an outstanding season but is also a UFA and is a restricted free agent like Pavelec. Drew MacIntyre also played well for the Wolves and he has a season remaining on his contract with the Thrashers. Carrozzi and Pasquale could battle for a job in Chicago, play in Gwinnett, stay in junior a overage players, or (as Rick Dudley suggested) potentially play in Europe for a season or two).
Both players will likely be at the team’s prospect evaluation camp in July.
Depth from the goal mouth out is a smart way to build a franchise. Considering that Alex Kangas will likely turn pro after his senior season at Minnesota, the Thrashers probably will lay off drafting a goaltender in 2010.
The pantry of prospects is the most promising in the franchise’s brief history.
Is it true that the team has signed Danick Paquette, as several Canadian outlets are reporting?
It hasn’t been officially announced, but I assume it will be in the near future.
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