Goaltending has turned into a talking point for the Pittsburgh Penguins, following another disappointing season, missing the playoffs. The goaltending situation has reared its head as a barrier to qualifying for the playoffs. The core of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang are in their twilight years, and the organization hopes to qualify for the playoffs at least one more time before this group hangs up the skates. As such, general manager Kyle Dubas has his work cut out for him sorting out the goaltending for the Penguins heading into next season.
The Situation at the Start of the Season
Training camp opened with a familiar pairing in net. Tristan Jarry returned looking to reclaim the starter spot that he conceded to Alex Nedeljkovic down the stretch of the previous season. Meanwhile, Nedeljkovic, coming off a contract extension, aimed to earn more starts for the Penguins. Behind them, rookie second-round pick Joel Blomqvist had a strong enough camp to earn minutes at the NHL level as well. Finally, Russian prospect Sergei Murashov prepared for his first season in North America, gaining experience on AHL and ECHL ice.
Tristan Jarry held the spotlight to start the year. The veteran goaltender struggled with a 19-25-5 record the season prior, after signing a 5-year contract extension. Coming into year two, there were trade rumours abound, with Dubas potentially looking to move off the netminder. The struggles continued in October and November, with Jarry pitching a 3-3-1 record, once again losing his crease to back-up Nedeljkovic. However, he performed poorly too, with a 4-4-3 record in the first two months of the season. Finally, Joel Blomqvist received playing time at the NHL level, going 3-5-0 himself. The goaltending of the Penguins was a major issue at the beginning of the season, and even after stabilizing itself later in the year, enough damage was done to start to throw the season off.
In-Season Tweaks
GM Dubas sought to control the damage caused by the goaltending position. He made a bold move in January, waiving Jarry and sending him down to the AHL. The four years remaining on his contract made a claim unlikely. However, the gesture signalled management’s frustration with the goalie louder than any press conference could.
With the position in constant flux, rookie Blomqvist got more time with the big club again. He would go 1-4-1 with an .848% save percentage from January to March. Although the netminder has tons of potential, he showed the big club he’s not ready for the NHL just yet. Meanwhile, Nedeljkovic went 8-9-2 through the same time period, highlighting the Penguins’ continued struggles in net with his .899% save percentage.
Following these struggles, Jarry returned to the net in March and April. He would go 8-4-2 with a .903% save percentage. This final stretch of play aided in giving fans and management some hope that Jarry can turn the corner. However, Jarry has a lot more work to do to regain his status as an all-star-calibre goaltender.
The Penguins Goaltending Group Going into the Off-Season
Pittsburgh enters the summer with three netminders under contract and a vague pecking order. Nedeljkovic has one year left at a reasonable $2.5 million value. With a 14-15-5 record and .894% save percentage, expect him to play back-up once again. Jarry, meanwhile, still has three years left on a $5.375 million average annual value contract. With the Penguins looking to miss the playoffs and gain a high-draft pick once again, Jarry could be on his way out this summer. The loss of Jarry would be cushioned by the ascent of Joel Blomqvist. Blomqvist went 4-9-1 with a .885 save percentage at the NHL level. However, he continued his AHL excellence, with an 8-7-3 record and .914% save percentage. He could be primed to play in a tandem role with Nedeljkovic, barring Jarry’s status as a Pittsburgh Penguin going into the 2025-26 season.
Important Decisions Regarding the Penguins’ Goaltending Ahead
The Penguins face an uncomfortable decision. The team needs to determine whether or not it looks to compete or rebuild this season. Tristan Jarry could be a valuable asset for the right team, barring a return to form. This could bring in a favourable return for the Penguins. However, his relatively expensive contract makes this potential move a lot harder to envision. If the move was to be made, it could help free up money to spend elsewhere, while hopefully bringing in future assets for a rebuilding Pittsburgh squad.
For the future, Joel Blomqvist and prospect netminder Sergei Murashov are important to watch. Blomqvist stands to receive a lot more playing time next season. Murashov, meanwhile, will get more of a look at the AHL level, following excellent play at the ECHL and AHL level in his first season on North American ice. With these two prospects in net, the Penguins should have a bright future. The present, however, leaves much to be desired, and it’s up to Kyle Dubas and the management group to figure out how to bridge this coming season into the future.
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