Tristan Jarry is an Edmonton Oiler. The goalie who supplanted two-time Stanley Cup winner Matt Murray in 2020 but never lived up to his full potential will get the chance to win his own Stanley Cup with the two-time defending Western Conference champion Oilers.

After a few seasons of angst, Jarry, 31, seemed to have finally begun to put the pieces of the puzzle together this season. His outstanding play stole several points in recent games, including the 4-3 win over Tampa Bay on Dec. 4, and he had begun to claim the Penguins’ net.

However, the Penguins also have a starting goalie in waiting with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Sergei Murashov, who posted another shutout in his most recent game.

The current situation was not going to clear up anytime soon, as Jarry has two more years on his contract, and 1A goalie Arturs Silovs has two more years of team control as a restricted free agent, creating a logjam at the NHL level that would have lasted for most of two more years.

It is Murashov’s time, soon, but Jarry was winning, and the Penguins are in a playoff spot, and so the trade comes at a surprising moment, but one fact obviously pushed the deal to completion:

The return.

The Penguins acquired left-handed defenseman Brett Kulak, goalie Stuart Skinner, and a 2029 second-rounder.

Penguins Trade Return

The Penguins got a solid return for Jarry, who months ago was thought untradeable. While some may debate winning or losing the trade, there is no doubt that Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas won the situation.

First, the cap ramifications slightly benefit the Penguins. Kulak carries a $2.7 million cap hit and will be a free agent. Skinner has a $2.6 million hit and also becomes a UFA after the season. Combined, they make $75,000 less than Jarry.

Specifically regarding the trade return, Dubas sold high on Jarry. The Penguins got a stable left-side defenseman at a time when Parker Wotherspoon’s play has dipped, and Ryan Graves remains unproven, even if his recent results suggest a return to form that earned him a six-year contract on July 1, 2023.

Kulak is 6-foot-2 and somewhere around 200 pounds. He can clear the net, which is something the Penguins badly need.

With Skinner, the Penguins have acquired a lotto scratcher. If he pays off and the goalie coaches can help him elevate his game, they immediately have enviable options.

If Silovs does not prove to the team he is a regular NHL goalie, Skinner could remain with the team as a tandem or backup to Murashov. If Skinner does not prove worthy of keeping around, he will be a free agent on July 1.

There is also a third option with Sknner: A trade.

Indeed, Skinner’s expiring contract provides Dubas and the Penguins the best of all worlds. Skinner won’t necessarily block Murashov’s ascension, either now or next season. Skinner also provides some insurance against Silovs’s development and could be a trade chip for the March 6 NHL trade deadline.

It’s probably a win-win for both sides as Jarry could very well be the missing piece for the Oilers, who have been so close to winning the Stanley Cup two seasons running. A few more saves would have made a silver difference.

A footnote today, but maybe more for the future: The Penguins included 2019 first-round pick Sam Poulin in the trade. Poulin’s heavy style and improving play make him an intriguing acquisition. After five seasons in the Penguins organization, he needed a change. He steadfastly refused to entertain the idea when Pittsburgh Hockey Now asked, twice, over the last 18 months, but he did admit to being in a better headspace this season, which made him look like a faster player.

Poulin has overcome personal issues, but was blocked on the Penguins’ depth chart. The 23-year-old could get the chance he needs with Edmonton. Godspeed and good mental health.

Jarry played his junior hockey with the Edmonton Oil Kings, so getting around Edmonton in the winter will not be a challenge.

The trade also takes away a Penguins scapegoat. Jarry’s baggage proved to be too much for many to ignore, even as he posted a 9-3-1 record with a healthy .909 save percentage this season.

The cold reality is the Penguins saved about $75,000 in cap space but also about $850,000 on the accounting ledger by acquiring a backup goalie, a third-pairing defenseman, and a second-round draft pick … who will have been born in 2011.

It’s not a team-changing return, but it’s something when nothing was thought possible just a couple of months ago.

The trade also proves one thing–Dubas remains focused on the rebuild or retool, and is not making big decisions for today at the expense of tomorrow.

Tags: Edmonton Oilers Penguins Trade Pittsburgh Penguins stuart skinner Tristan Jarry tristan jarry trade

Categorized: Penguins Trade Talk