It’s been an astonishingly long time since a goaltender was featured here on Thursday mornings. That changes today as we head back out west. Sure, his team is technically in the Southeast Division. Yes, we know that makes only slightly more sense than the proposed realignment plan. Just go with it.

So congrats to Ondřej Pavelec of the Winnipeg Jets!

Pavelec began his NHL career after being selected in the second round of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft by the Atlanta Thrashers (RIP).  He played his first NHL game on October 20, 2007 after starting netminder Kari Lehtonen went down with an injury. When the team moved to Winnipeg,  he played the lion’s share of the games for the team in their return to the league.

Oh, and he has dreamy eyes.

Pavelec has also represented his native country at the World Juniors, World Championships, and the Vancouver Winter Games. This includes the Czechs’ gold medal win in 2010 in Cologne.

I mean, really. Not much else to say.

And now… drum roll please…

Oliver Ekman-Larsson of the Phoenix Coyotes.