In an unexpected development early in the NHL season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have made the decision to send their starting goaltender, Tristan Jarry, back home to Pittsburgh for extra training and practice. The move comes as Jarry has struggled mightily in his first few starts, posting a goals-against average of 5.47 and a save percentage of just .836.
A Surprising Move
The decision to send Jarry home in the middle of a road trip through Western Canada has caught many hockey observers off guard. It’s a highly unusual step for a team to take with their starting netminder, especially so early in the season. However, Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan felt it was necessary given Jarry’s poor play thus far.
It’s just part of the process we’ve put in place in here over the next little while to help Tristan get to his very best.
Mike Sullivan, Pittsburgh Penguins Head Coach
According to sources close to the team, Jarry will spend his time in Pittsburgh working closely with goaltending coach Jon Elkin. The hope is that the individualized attention and focused practice time will help Jarry rediscover the form that made him an All-Star in each of the past two seasons.
Concerning Early Results
There’s no sugarcoating just how poor Jarry’s play has been in the early going. In three starts, he’s allowed a staggering 16 goals on just 98 shots faced. His most recent outing, against the Buffalo Sabres on October 16th, saw him pulled after surrendering three goals on just five shots in the first period.
For a Penguins team with Stanley Cup aspirations, getting Jarry back on track is of the utmost importance. The 28-year-old goalie signed a 5-year, $26.875 million contract extension in July 2023, cementing his status as the team’s goalie of the present and future. If he can’t find his game, it could spell trouble for Pittsburgh’s championship hopes.
Goaltending By Committee
In Jarry’s absence, the Penguins will rely on the tandem of Alex Nedjelkovic and rookie Joel Blomqvist to handle the goaltending duties. Nedjelkovic, acquired via trade in the offseason, has been solid if unspectacular in his two starts. Blomqvist, meanwhile, will be making his NHL debut if called upon during the road trip.
It’s a less than ideal situation for a team with championship aspirations, but the Penguins are hoping that Jarry’s sabbatical will pay off in the long run. If he can return to form and provide the steady, often spectacular goaltending he’s shown himself capable of in the past, it will go a long way towards getting Pittsburgh’s season back on track.
The Road Ahead
For now, all eyes will be on how Nedjelkovic and Blomqvist perform in Jarry’s stead. The Penguins wrap up their Western Canada swing with games in Edmonton on Friday and Vancouver on Saturday before returning home for a three-game homestand next week.
As for when Jarry might rejoin the team, coach Sullivan was noncommittal, stating only that “it’s a process” and offering no specific timeline. The Penguins and their fans will undoubtedly be hoping that process yields results sooner rather than later. In a competitive Metropolitan Division, they can ill afford to fall too far behind while their star goalie works to find his game.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have taken a drastic step in sending struggling goaltender Tristan Jarry home for extra work with the team’s goaltending coaches. Only time will tell if this unconventional approach pays off, but for a team with championship aspirations, getting their All-Star netminder back on track is of the utmost importance. The hockey world will be watching closely to see how this story unfolds in the coming days and weeks.
