The Edmonton Oilers have been rumored to be interested in adding a goalie to be part of a tandem with Stuart Skinner, after their goaltending struggled in the playoffs.
However, the free agent class didn’t have many top-end goalies, and the Oilers missed out on trading for John Gibson, who went to the Detroit Red Wings. Now, NHL insider Jeff Marek of DailyFaceoff links the Oilers to trading for Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry.
“With the Pittsburgh Penguins acquiring Calder Cup MVP netminder Arturs Silovs in a trade with the Vancouver Canucks and Joel Blomqvist poised for a significant role next season, we start to wonder where Tristan Jarry will end up and how much the Pens will have to pay to move him. Could this be a deal for the Edmonton Oilers?,” Marek wrote.
As Marek mentions, Pittsburgh could look to roll with Blomqvist and Silovs next season, which could lead to Jarry being traded. The goaltender has three years left on his five-year, $26.75 million deal.
However, if the Penguins go trade Jarry, Pittsburgh would likely have to retain some salary on his deal, making it more affordable for the Oilers.
Jarry went 16-12-6 with a 3.12 GAA and a .893 SV%. He has had his struggles, but when he’s on, he is one of the better goalies in the NHL.
Oilers GM Open to Adding a Goalie
Edmonton has both Skinner and Pickard under contract next season, but the Oilers haven’t ruled out an addition.
After the Oilers lost in the Stanley Cup Final in back-to-back years, general manager Stan Bowman was keeping the door open to making some changes at goalie.
“Well, the evaluation isn’t something you do just once or twice and then it’s over with. When I say that, it’s not just looking at the goaltending we have,” Bowman said. “But also what’s out there and options. So it’s going to be a process that we’re going to go through. I don’t think we’re going to come to one decision tomorrow or the next day. It’s really about taking in the information, and eventually, we’re going to settle on the thing that we think makes the most sense…
“Part of the evaluation is the guys that we have, and if it makes the most sense to keep this group, that’s certainly a possibility,” Bowman added. “So I don’t know. We’re not at the point where we’re saying we’re definitely bringing in new goalies.”
If Edmonton is going to add a goalie, it likely will come through a trade after most of the key free-agent goalies have signed.
Penguins Acquire Silovs, Could Make Jarry Expendable
Pittsburgh did make a goalie move on July 13, acquiring Silovs from the Canucks.
Silovs helped lead the Canucks’ AHL team to a Calder Cup and had to go through waivers next season, which led to Vancouver trading him.
“We would like thank Arturs for everything he has done for the hockey club, including helping Abbotsford win the Calder Cup,” Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin said. “We wanted to give him an opportunity elsewhere as we feel we are very well positioned in goal at the NHL, AHL and developmental level. Acquiring a future pick and depth forward will add to our organizational depth.”
Silovs is entering the final year of his two-year, $1.7 million deal.
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