Chances are Edmonton Oilers goalie Tristan Jarry won’t get much time to prove he can be a dependable number-one starter.
Last December, the Oilers grew frustrated with goalie Stuart Skinner’s inconsistency and, as a result, sent him to the Pittsburgh Penguins in a multi-player deal that brought back Jarry. The goaltending situation for Edmonton will be one of the top NHL storylines to follow early in the season.
Oilers Goalie Tristan Jarry Must Make Good Impression
Time Running Out for Oilers Goalie Tristan Jarry
Jarry, who is a two-time All-Star, had some great moments in Pittsburgh, including making the 2020 and 2022 All-Star Team and having a career season in 2021-22 with a 34-18-6 record which included four shutouts, a 2.42 GAA, and a .919 save percentage, things took a turn for the worse over the next few seasons.
Following that career season, Jarry would battle injuries and in the 2024-25 season, after struggling in Pittsburgh with a .893 save percentage in 36 games, he was sent down to the Pens’ AHL affiliate, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for 12 games.
As mentioned, last December saw a fresh start with a new organization when Jarry was traded to the Oilers, and was viewed unfairly as the saviour in goal who would lead them to a deep playoff run and perhaps the Stanley Cup.
As Oilers fans know too well, that didn’t come close to happening, as Jarry played like a shadow of himself and consequently lost his position as the team’s undisputed number one goalie to Connor Ingram.
Last spring, Jarry only played one game, which was a 4-3 OT loss in the Western Conference opening round which eventually saw the Anaheim Ducks upset the Oilers.
Heading into summer, there was a lot of uncertainty involving Jarry and the Oilers goaltending position.
Oilers Sign Unrestricted Free Agent Frederik Andersen
Jarry’s time as an Oiler seemed to be getting shorter when, this past summer, the Oilers went out, and on July 1st, signed unrestricted free agent veteran netminder Frederik Andersen. Andersen, who was just coming off a Stanley Cup win with the Carolina Hurricanes agreed to a one-year $2.8 million dollar contract.
Andersen, who is 36 years old, and has enjoyed stints with the Ducks, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Hurricanes during his career, is extremely injury-prone which made this a risky signing.
In last year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs, which saw Andersen go 13-2 with a .910 GAA and 1.89 save percentage, he suffered a knee injury during Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals which sidelined him for the remaining three games.
Unfortunately for Oilers fans, Andersen suffered an off-season knee injury while training which has resulted in the veteran missing all of training camp and remaining sidelined to begin the season.
This of course opened the window wide open for Jarry to try and take hold of the number one goaltending job.
Jarry, who last year was pulled from several games, will get an immediate opportunity to start redeeming himself as he got the nod for starting in net from coach Mike Babcock for the season opener on September 29th at Rogers Place against the Vancouver Canucks.
“What I like about what’s happened is he really worked hard in the off-season, really improved his conditioning. He’s worked closely with Pete (goalie coach Aubry) on a plan to stabilize his game. Any time you have a tough year, and those things happen in the National League, you always want to bounce back he’s ready to do it.”
On July 1st, the Oilers added some more goaltending insurance as they made a trade with the Buffalo Sabres for 24-year-old goalie Devon Levi who played last season for the Sabres AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans. In 52 games, Levi went 23-20-9 with three shutouts along with a 2.83 GAA and a .904 save percentage.
No doubt hockey fans, especially Oilers fans will be pulling for Jarry but make no mistake if he slumps like he did last year and the Oilers fall behind early in the standings, his time as an Oiler could quickly run out.
Jarry Badly Slumped Upon Joining the Oilers
To say things didn’t work out last year in Edmonton for Jarry would be a complete understatement.
After his first 18 games as an Oiler, Jarry had a 3.95 GAA and an embarrassing .856 save percentage.
By season’s end, he did manage to slightly improve as he played 19 regular-season games for the Oilers and posted a 9-6-2 record with one shutout, a 3.86 GAA and a .858 save percentage.
Right away things went wrong for Jarry in Edmonton as he was injured days after the trade when on December 18th, during a 3-1 Oilers road win against the Boston Bruins, he had to leave midway through the second period with a lower-body injury which caused him to miss some time.
As time went on, the Oilers according to various media reports, grew frustrated and puzzled with Jarry’s play which has led to him being pulled from games on various occasions. This included back in February when he was pulled twice in three games.
Last March 13th, at American Airlines Center in what was definitely a major low for Jarry, he allowed seven goals on 27 shots, for an unflattering .741 save percentage during an eventual 7-2 loss against the Dallas Stars.
To say things weren’t working out would be an understatement, as Jarry in his first 14 games as an Oiler ranked near the bottom of the league with a 3.93 GAA and .863 save percentage.
Back in early March, Oilers insider Bob Stauffer went public about a heated argument during Oilers practice which included a couple of Oilers teammates getting upset with the goalie and letting him know about it.
“There are some extraneous things that have me quite concerned with Tristan,” Stauffer said. “I can read between the lines of what was going on the ice yesterday in practice and there seemed to be some salvos flying. I didn’t like that Jarry, when the Oilers lost 7-3 to Minnesota, talked about how the team is playing defensively in front of him.”
Eventually last season, Jarry’s grasp as the number one goalie in Edmonton was gone and coach Kris Knoblauch named Ingram as the starter.
Ingram, who last October was the Oilers third-string goalie, went 16-10-3 with a 2.60 GAA and a .899 save percentage.
Meanwhile, Jarry ended up 9-6-2 with one shutout, a 3.86 GAA and an .858 save percentage.
It’s not clear when Andersen will be back but once again, if Jarry plays inconsistently like he did last year and proves to be a disruption in the dressing room, he will be traded or released by Christmas time.
Main Image: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
