The Edmonton Oilers face a challenging situation in goal as the 2025-26 NHL season approaches, with limited options available to improve their netminding position. As teams continue to narrow down their goaltending strategies, the Oilers must decide whether to retain Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard or explore alternative avenues to upgrade their goaltending. The scarcity of strong free-agent goaltenders makes trading for an established goalie an intriguing possibility. Among trade targets, Tristan Jarry of the Pittsburgh Penguins emerges as a candidate, despite his recent struggles.
Jarry’s recent season was difficult, ending in a demotion to the AHL after clearing waivers. He posted a save percentage of .893 and a goals-against average above three, contributing to Pittsburgh’s third straight season outside the playoffs. This low point suggests that if Edmonton pursues him, they would be gambling on a rebound. The Oilers would need to weigh the risk carefully, especially considering their tight salary cap constraints and the necessity to maximize every acquisition.
Evaluating Tristan Jarry’s Performance and Suitability for Edmonton
Despite Jarry’s disappointing 2024-25 campaign, acquiring him could present an opportunity to “buy low.” Pittsburgh’s recent addition of Arturs Silovs signals their openness to moving Jarry as they focus on rebuilding and potentially securing top draft picks, such as highly regarded prospect Gavin McKenna. If the Penguins retain part of Jarry’s salary, the Oilers might obtain him at a manageable cap hit near $3 million, reducing the financial burden and limiting the potential downside.
Jarry’s history shows ups and downs. Although last season’s results were below expectations, he played only 36 games with roughly half being quality starts, defined as games with a save percentage higher than .900. Notably, he ended the year with a strong stretch, making nine quality starts over his final 14 games. However, inconsistency plagued him, including ten games where he allowed four or more goals, heavily impacting his season statistics.
How Edmonton’s Defensive Strength Could Help Jarry Rebound
Looking beyond last season’s figures, Jarry has logged nearly 300 career NHL games with solid numbers overall. His .909 career save percentage surpasses the league average from recent seasons, suggesting that Jarry’s poor recent form might reflect situational issues rather than a permanent decline. His struggles behind Pittsburgh’s weaker defensive unit—ranked 26th in high-danger chances allowed—contrast sharply with Edmonton’s robust defense, which ranked fourth best in preventing dangerous scoring chances last season. This improved support system could help Jarry return closer to his career norm.
The Oilers’ current goaltending tandem combined for an .888 save percentage in last season’s playoffs, indicating clear room for improvement. If Jarry regains form, his experience and prior success position him to offer a meaningful upgrade. The key consideration becomes whether Edmonton can secure Jarry under favorable terms, particularly with Pittsburgh subsidizing salary and receiving minimal assets in return.
Financial Considerations and Roster Implications
Edmonton’s cap limitations mean they must carefully manage the cost of adding Jarry. If the Oilers must bear his full salary without retention, the risk may outweigh potential rewards. However, with Pittsburgh possibly absorbing two to three million of Jarry’s cap hit, a cost-effective dual-goalie setup including Skinner and Jarry under $6 million combined becomes tenable in the context of an increasing salary cap.
Ultimately, Jarry may be one of the few viable trade candidates to improve Edmonton’s goaltending this offseason. The Oilers must decide whether they are willing to accept the gamble of his rebound potential against the backdrop of limited alternatives and the high stakes of playoff aspirations.
Lukas Dostal’s Role in Anaheim’s Goaltending Future
Meanwhile, the Anaheim Ducks solidified their goaltending future by signing Lukas Dostal to a five-year contract with an average annual value of $6.5 million. Though Dostal’s NHL save percentages around .902 to .903 appear average, his performance under difficult defensive conditions reveals promise. The Ducks allowed the most high-danger chances league-wide last season, yet Dostal posted an impressive 14.3 goals saved above expected, highlighting his ability to exceed expectations.
Dostal excelled particularly at the beginning of last season, achieving a .945 save percentage throughout October with seven quality starts in eight games. This performance came during John Gibson’s absence and underscores Dostal’s capacity to play a heavy workload effectively. With Gibson’s departure, Dostal is poised to take on a larger role, and Anaheim’s commitment signals confidence that he can continue to develop into a reliable starter.
Goalie Depth Challenges for the Vegas Golden Knights
The Vegas Golden Knights face goaltending uncertainty beyond incumbent starter Adin Hill. With Ilya Samsonov not expected to return as Hill’s backup, and Akira Schmid remaining the only other option behind the crease, Vegas confronts a thin depth chart. Schmid’s limited experience and inconsistent production present risks should Hill suffer an injury or fatigue.
Hill logged his heaviest workload ever last season with 50 games, but his performance notably declined in the playoffs, posting an .887 save percentage. This downturn, particularly against the Oilers where he allowed three or more goals in nearly every playoff game, highlights the challenges of relying heavily on him. The previous season configuration with Logan Thompson as a complementary goaltender allowed more balanced starts and likely contributed to Hill’s earlier successes.
With significant cap commitments to Hill over the next six years and changes to Vegas’s defensive unit—including the loss of Nic Hague and the injury to Alex Pietrangelo—the team may need to seek a dependable partner to preserve Hill’s effectiveness. However, expensive options like Tristan Jarry remain beyond reach due to salary constraints, leaving Vegas in a difficult position to find suitable depth to support a deep playoff run.
Jet Greaves Emerging as a Bright Spot in Columbus
The Columbus Blue Jackets narrowly missed the playoffs last season, yet goaltender Jet Greaves provided a spark in the crease. Called up late in the year, Greaves posted an unblemished 5-0 record accompanied by a .975 save percentage over five starts, conceding just four goals in total. Though a limited sample size, his performances have impressed and suggest he could earn a longer look for the upcoming season.
Columbus’s goaltending has been a longstanding weakness, with Elvis Merzlikins delivering sub-.900 save percentages for three consecutive seasons. Daniil Tarasov, once viewed as a promising option, struggled last year and was subsequently traded to Florida. This reshuffling opens a path for Greaves to compete for more significant playing time alongside Merzlikins.
The Blue Jackets boast a powerful offense, ranked in the top ten, but defensive shortcomings and weak goaltending held them back. Their 22nd-ranked team save percentage underscored the impact of insufficient netminding on missing the playoffs by just two points. If Greaves can sustain his late-season form, Columbus might emerge as a playoff contender in the near future.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Did any team claim Tristan Jarry?
A. No NHL team picked up Tristan Jarry from the Pittsburgh Penguins by Thursday’s 2 p.m. deadline. He is now moving to the AHL. Meanwhile, Blomqvist has been promoted.
Q. Why was Tristan Jarry sent down?
A. In a tough period when Jarry lost six games in a row, things got so bad that he was sent to the minor leagues. Kyle Dubas, who had signed Jarry to a five-year contract after becoming general manager in the summer of 2023, made this unusual choice.
Q. Did anyone claim Tristan Jarry?
A. The Pittsburgh Penguins’ goalie Tristan Jarry went through waivers by the deadline on Thursday with no other NHL team claiming him. Shortly after, the Penguins stated that Jarry would join the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton team in the American Hockey League.