When Elliotte Friedman speaks, the hockey world listens. And on the latest Saturday Headlines, the insider dropped a nugget that has Edmonton Oilers fans buzzing—and perhaps scratching their heads. According to Friedman, there is “legitimate interest” from the Oilers in acquiring Pittsburgh Penguins netminder Tristan Jarry.
On paper, the logic is sound. The Oilers are in the perennial hunt for Stanley Cup glory, and goaltending stability remains the franchise’s white whale. However, dig a little deeper, and you’ll see why Friedman also labeled this potential blockbuster as “extremely complicated.”
The Salary Cap Obstacles Facing an Oilers-Penguins Deal
Here is the cold, hard reality: Tristan Jarry carries a $5.375 million AAV through the 2027-28 season. For a team like Edmonton, which is constantly dancing along the razor’s edge of the salary cap, taking on that full hit is near impossible without significant money going the other way.
To make matters stickier, reports indicate that Pittsburgh GM Kyle Dubas has zero intention of retaining salary on Jarry. This puts the ball firmly in Stan Bowman’s court. The Oilers would need to shed salary to fit Jarry in, and they aren’t looking to swap Stuart Skinner to do it. The goal here isn’t a replacement; it’s a tandem. The Oilers want a 1A/1B situation to fortify the crease for a deep playoff run.
My Expert Insight: Timing is Everything
From my perspective, this feels like a conversation that is happening too early. While the interest is real, the logistics suggest this is an offseason maneuver rather than an in-season panic move.
Jarry is a high-ceiling, low-floor goaltender. When he is locked in, he’s an All-Star capable of stealing games. When he’s off, he struggles with consistency—something Oilers fans are already all too familiar with. Committing nearly $5.4 million for three more years to a goalie who has had a tumultuous 24 months in Pittsburgh is a massive gamble.
If the Oilers pull the trigger now, it reeks of desperation. If they wait until the summer, they have more flexibility to move contracts. However, the risk of waiting is that Jarry either rehabilitates his value beyond Edmonton’s price range, or another contender swoops in. Keep an eye on this, but don’t expect a trade call tomorrow morning.
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