What goaltender Tristan Jarry brings to the Edmonton Oilers

Throughout his NHL career, Jarry has had many ups and downs. His strongest season was in 2021–22 when he posted 34 wins in 58 games. He also recorded a career high in save percentage with .919 during that year. Unfortunately, things have gone a little bit downwards since then, as Jarry has had some serious consistency problems.

The biggest downfall for Jarry occurred last season, when his performance became so unreliable that the Penguins sent him down to the AHL. He made 12 appearances with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and posted a record of 6–5–1. His play did not improve that much in the AHL, and it was clear that the goalie needed some time off.

Jarry regrouped over the offseason and has looked much better this season. So far, he has a 9–3–1 record and was a key piece as to why the Penguins have overachieved their early season expectations. This trade came at such a random time, as both Jarry and Skinner were playing relatively solid for their teams.

All fans must be tuned in to Tuesday’s game as the Oilers and Penguins will face off in Pittsburgh for the first time since the trade. Will it be a Jarry vs Skinner night in net?

Jarry’s history in Edmonton

As many Oiler fans may know, Jarry played his entire junior hockey career in Edmonton with the Edmonton Oil Kings. Jarry spent four seasons with the Oil Kings. Through the first two years, he served as the backup goalie behind Laurent Brossoit. Afterwards, Jarry took over the net in Edmonton and was the main guy for his last two seasons. Jarry’s two seasons as a starter were spectacular, especially his year in 2013–14. Jarry posted a 44–14–3 record alongside a .914 save percentage and 2.24 goals against average.

Jarry was a part of the legendary playoff run by the Oil Kings that ended in a WHL Championship. They took down the stacked Portland Winterhawks in an intense seven-game series. Edmonton won game seven on home ice and secured its spot in the Memorial Cup. Jarry and the Oil Kings carried this good momentum into the 2014 Memorial Cup Championship, where they won 6–3 against the Guelph Storm in the championship game. Ever since this run, Jarry has been an Oil King legend who has always been remembered by the fans.

Yes, Jarry has certainly had his ups and downs in the NHL, but seeing the previous success he has had in Edmonton is a good sign. Oilers fans cannot help but be excited if Jarry can bring back the fame he once found on an Edmonton team. Jarry will likely make his Oilers debut on Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

It is a new era of goaltending in Edmonton. Do you think Jarry is the guy to help bring the Cup back to Edmonton? Or is he no upgrade from Skinner?

Is a Jarry and Pickard tandem the answer?

The tandem of Jarry and Pickard is a tough duo to rely on. Pickard has had a disappointing season so far, posting a 3–3–2 record with a .851 save percentage and 4.04 goals against average. This has easily been his worst season with the Oilers, so some kind of change was desperately needed in net.

Jarry, on the other hand, could be a total home run or strikeout trade acquisition. The 30-year-old has had similar issues to Skinner, such as inconsistency and letting in bad goals at crucial moments.

Going forward, the Oilers will probably swap starts between Jarry and Pickard just so Jarry can settle in with the new team. This is his first time being traded, which can bring a significant change in his lifestyle. He will be needed in the playoffs when it really matters.

Luckily, Jarry does have some playoff experience with the Penguins. In the 2020–21 season, Jarry made six playoff appearances for the Penguins. Here, he had a bit of a rough go, posting a .888 save percentage alongside a 3.18 goals against average. Hopefully, with a better team in front of him, Jarry can lock things down when it matters.

This trade was a good one for the Penguins. They got a second-round pick, a solid depth defenceman, and a goalie who still has some potential. There is no doubt that Skinner will be missed in Edmonton. He had some awesome moments as an Oiler and helped them get to two Stanley Cup Finals. To replace Kulak, the Oilers also traded for defenceman Spencer Stastney from the Nashville Predators. He is only 25-years-old, and can be a reliable depth defenceman.

Tune in, as the Oilers are back in action Saturday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs.