The smoke around the Pittsburgh Penguins trade rumors is real. The Edmonton Oilers are indeed interested in goaltender Tristan Jarry, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.

During the Headlines Segment on Hockey Night in Canada Saturday, Friedman confirmed talks between the teams, and increasing talks over the last 48 hours. However, the league’s leading reporter also confirmed complications that make a deal difficult, if not impossible.

“There’s been a lot of noise around Tristan Jarry in the last 24 to 48 hours,” Friedman began on the HNIC broadcast.

First, Friedman reported that Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas will not retain salary in a deal. Jarry has this season and two more remaining at a $5.375 million salary cap hit.

“I do think there’s legitimate Edmonton interest in Jarry,” Friedman said. “But I think it’s extremely complicated, and might not be possible. Mainly because Pittsburgh has indicated it will not retain.”

The Oilers currently have merely $159,167 in cap space, according to Puckpedia.com. That number will not improve when the team activates forward Kasperi Kapanen from long-term injured reserve, so Edmonton must shed salary elsewhere or figure out a way to include at least that much salary in a deal.

Friedman noted the Penguins are not interested in Stuart Skinner, and Edmonton is not interested in dealing him, as they plan to pair the two goalies.

“For those of you who are Oilers fans, you know what (lack of salary retention) means. It might not be possible because Edmonton would have to do some roster surgery to get it done, and right now, because of their own injury and cap situation, they are really stuck.

“I believe there is interest in Jarry, I just don’t know if it’s going to be possible.”

Jarry has been stellar since returning from a lower-body injury last week. He was strong in a 5-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers, making several key saves in the first and third periods. His performance earned him a second straight start in which he was widely credited, including by teammates both on and off the record, as stealing a 4-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning Thursday.

Jarry has started 11 games this season and posted a 9-2-0 record with a .913 save percentage, which is 10th best in the league.

Tags: Edmonton Oilers nhl trade penguins trade talk Pittsburgh Penguins Tristan Jarry

Categorized: Penguins Trade Talk