Powerful Positives: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman started a fire storm between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Edmonton Oilers, after confirming the Oilers did indeed reach out to the Penguins regarding goaltender Tristan Jarry. While talks certainly took place, it doesn’t sound like anything was accomplished, and according to reporters following the team, don’t expect to see a move coming later this season.
Josh Yohe of The Athletic is own of the Penguins most in-tuned beat reporters, and Rossi shed some light on what to expect from the Penguins trade-rumor mill this season:
So, if the Penguins keep winning, I’d be surprised if Jarry, Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell or Erik Karlsson are traded this season. Those players can always be dealt next summer, especially if they continue to play like they have this season. Jarry’s case is fascinating because, for a couple of years, the Penguins would have loved to have unloaded his contract. Now, amazingly, he’s one of the Penguins’ most valuable contributors. At this point, none of those players is unmovable, but the return would have to be outrageous.
Jarry is signed for two more seasons at $5.3 million AAV, and one huge hurdle for the Oilers is the fact they have no cap space, and don’t want to give up Stuart Skinner in the trade. The Oilers would like to move Cal Pickard instead, however he makes less, and would need to be paired with at least one more player to even make the deal work financially. As would Skinner, as they make significantly less than Jarry.
While the Penguins continue to surprise this season, if they do end up sliding out of a playoff spot, trade talks are going to pick up in a major way. For now, don’t expect to see Jarry, or anyone else for that matter, moved to the Oilers.
