Penguins Have Three Trade Options for Tristan Jarry
PITTSBURGH — While the NHL playoffs continue, the Pittsburgh Penguins are already deep into offseason business. One of the constant questions is: what members of the Penguins will be moved this summer? There seem to be some obvious candidates like Reilly Smith or Ryan Graves. But then there’s a group of players that are a complete mystery.
That’s where goaltender Tristan Jarry is. A year removed from a huge contract extension, the Penguins’ goaltending position is up for grabs. Jarry had an up-and-down season and was ultimately supplanted by Alex Nedeljkovic down the stretch.
With four years remaining on his contract, the Penguins have a serious decision to make regarding Jarry. Does management believe he can turn it around, or do they want to see what Joel Blomqvist and another veteran like Nedeljkovic can do?
President of hockey operations Kyle Dubas has said he’s expecting Jarry to bounce back in 2024-25, but that doesn’t mean a trade is in the cards.
If they do go that route, the Penguins will be in an advantageous position. In relation to the best goaltenders in the league, Jarry is a salary cap steal. He only makes $5.375 million, the 12th highest of all goaltenders in the NHL. At 29 years old, he’s never posted a goals-against average above 3.00 or a save percentage below .900, and he’s coming off of a six-shutout season.
To top it off, he still has productive years ahead and could net the Penguins a reasonable return. So, what teams would be interested in acquiring Jarry if the Penguins pulled the trigger on a trade?
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings would have to be the frontrunner for any sort of goaltender trade this summer. Their starter last season, Cam Talbot, is coming off an impressive season but is 36 years old. Both he and backup David Rittich are on expiring contracts, and their best young option is 23-year-old Erik Portillo.
Los Angeles is in a prime position to bolster its roster this offseason, and a starting goaltender is top of their list. The Penguins would certainly be intrigued by the impressive prospects in the Kings’ system, and swapping Jarry for one of them would kickstart the efforts to get younger.
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are still building their team, but acquiring a starting goaltender would go a long way. They have a reliable backup and spot starter in Sam Montembeault, but they need someone more talented to backstop them to the next level. They may view Jarry as a potential solution, which could be perfect for the Penguins.
For Jarry, it makes sense as well. He’d play in his native country and get a fresh start in a competitive hockey market. There’s no real evidence that either team is interested in this kind of deal, but seeing this potential trade unfold wouldn’t surprise anyone.
Detroit Red Wings
These two teams might never link up for a trade because of their Stanley Cup past, but the Penguins and Detroit Red Wings would make perfect trade partners. The Red Wings are on the cusp of being a playoff team. They need to solidify their goaltending position to take the next step, and the Pens’ starting netminder could be an excellent candidate.
This might also work for a change of scenery trade. Red Wings goalie Ville Husso is signed for another season. He has had a similar trajectory as Jarry over the last few seasons: showing flashes of excellence but an inability to stay healthy and consistent. A goaltender swap might make the most sense if these teams did link up for a trade.
The Penguins have made no public statement about their intentions with Jarry, and the uncertainty is likely to drag out all offseason. If the Pens decide it is indeed time to move on, they shouldn’t have a problem finding a partner to work out a deal.
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