At some point in 2024, an NHL rumor was brewing, and Pittsburgh Penguins netminder Tristan Jarry was one of the names in the pot. However, nothing happened and Jarry was the team’s Opening Night Starter.
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However, it was a brutal start for the Surrey, BC native who was in talks to be part of Team Canada at the upcoming 4 Nations Face-off in February 2025.
In Jarry’s three games this season, these are his stats:
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October 9 v. NYR – six goals against, .850 SV%
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October 14 v. MTL – three goals against, .889 SV%
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October 16 v. BUF – three goals, 11:33, .400 SV%
The Penguins’ best goaltender was pulled after just 11 minutes, the fourth time in the last six home games he’s been pulled, dating back to 2023-2024.
Meanwhile, the highly ranked Colorado Avalanche, 2022 Stanley Cup champions, are winless in the Western Conference and have the NHL’s worst goaltender problem.
In addition to leading the league in goals against (25), their No. 1 goaltender, Alexandar Georgiev, has struggled to finish a game, compiling an SV% above .800. In four games, here is an overview of his stats:
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October 9 v. VGK – five goals against, 40:00, .688 SV%
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October 12 v. CBJ – three goals against, 21:56, .667 SV%
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October 14 v. NYI – five goals against, .861 SV%
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October 16 v. BOS – four goals against, .850 SV%
Colorado needs to make a change as one of four teams yet to win a game. Meanwhile, the Penguins’ top goaltender is in dire need of a change, so it’s a game in the making.
The Penguins don’t need Georgiev or any other netminders in a trade. Joel Blomqvist is proving to be a more reliable puck stopper, and Alex Nedeljkovic could return any day now, so their tandem could be lined up for the rest of the year.
Never mind that the Wilkes/Barre-Scranton Penguins have Sergei Murashov and other prospects, so this could be a move for draft picks, a depth forward or a prospect.
The Avalanche would be getting a new goaltender who needs a fresh start. With a different team and a different environment, he was able to find the missing pieces to his game and help Colorado get back into the playoffs.
Furthermore, Georgiev would be best suited for a 1A and 1B situation and could benefit significantly from not playing every night. Last year, he somehow led the Avalanche to the playoffs despite posting a pedestrian .897 SV%, the worst total of his career.
After Wednesday night’s situation, Jarry’s leash is now short enough that he could end up in the press box for a few games once Nedeljkovic returns. While that won’t help him regain his confidence, regaining the trust of the fanbase may be the most challenging thing Jarry has ever done in his career.
It may sound wild to think that the Avalanche would be interested in Jarry, but if a deal were to ever happen, everyone could walk away a winner for all parties invested.
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