What do the Pittsburgh Penguins do with goaltender Tristan Jarry?
For a few years there, he looked like the true No. 1 in Pittsburgh. But, 2024-25 was a roller coaster, and there are no guarantees about his long-term role with the Penguins.
Here is the latest via Josh Yohe of The Athletic:
“I’d still say there’s a 75%-80% chance he’s on this team on opening night; they’re certainly willing to move him; I haven’t heard of any teams being interested.”
Jarry, 29, has three years left on his contract at an annual average value of $5.375 million. He is coming off one of his worst performances as a professional, going 16-12-6 with a .892 save percentage and a 3.12 goals allowed on average.
Pittsburgh did struggle mightily last season, and it is sometimes difficult to judge a goaltender on a bad team. But Jarry was not up to par, and there are questions about whether he can serve as a viable starter for the next three campaigns.
Jarry was assigned to the Penguins’ AHL affiliate, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, after clearing waivers for a reset.
Pittsburgh is also at a crossroads. Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang are not getting any younger, and this is likely Evgeni Malkin’s final season donning the Penguins sweater. Does general manager Kyle Dubas think this aging core is enough to lead them back to the playoffs?
Maybe. Maybe not. However, even if he does, the future in Pittsburgh remains murky, and the sooner Dubas hits the reset button, the sooner he can get this storied franchise back on track.
Jarry’s cap hit is also a bit pricey for someone who is not guaranteed to handle a starter’s workload. Perhaps a lousy team with cap space, looking to take on extra money for picks or prospects, could be a trade partner. However, that scenario would not align with the Penguins’ needs.
Pittsburgh will likely see how the fall goes for Jarry before making any further decisions.
