Oilers, Penguins trade buzz heats up after Kevin Weekes’ report

Why Jarry is suddenly a fit in Edmonton

Jarry isn’t a random name tied to the Oilers. There’s familiarity here, as he previously played junior hockey in Edmonton with the Oil Kings. That history may not decide a trade, but it certainly adds comfort to the idea of him handling the market.

From a hockey standpoint, Jarry offers something Edmonton has lacked all season: experience as a true No. 1. While his play in Pittsburgh this season has been surprisingly above average, he has proven he can shoulder heavy workloads and steal playoff-style games when he’s on. That alone puts him ahead of what the Oilers have been getting night-to-night.

How the salary cap math works

For this deal to be realistic, the money has to line up. The Penguins offer a more feasible option for Edmonton than adding someone like Jordan Binnington or Juuse Saros. However, it still likely means Stuart Skinner and Brett Kulak would need to be included going the other way.

From Edmonton’s side, that’s a difficult pill to swallow, especially moving their homegrown goalie. But strictly financially, it’s one of the cleanest ways to make the cap work without stripping multiple core forwards off the roster.

From a Pittsburgh perspective, this structure actually makes sense if they’re pivoting toward a rebuild. Both Skinner and Kulak are on expiring deals, giving the Penguins short-term flexibility, potential flip assets at the deadline, or simply cap space to reset their roster.

A risk the Oilers may have to take

This wouldn’t be a risk-free swing. Jarry has battled inconsistency and injuries, and Edmonton would be betting that a fresh market and a veteran-heavy room could stabilize his play. But after an 8–3 embarrassment and another chapter in an ugly goaltending narrative, standing pat feels like the bigger gamble.

The Oilers’ Cup window is open right now. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are in their primes, and the roster is built to win immediately. If that means sacrificing Skinner and Kulak to finally steady the crease, it’s a move management may have to seriously consider.

One thing is clear from the Oilers’ point of view: after last night, a change in net no longer feels optional — it feels inevitable.