In an try to resolve their goaltending woes, the Edmonton Oilers acquired Tristan Jarry from the Pittsburgh Penguins Friday whereas sending the much-maligned Stuart Skinner the opposite means. Edmonton wanted to make a transfer in purpose, however is Jarry actually the reply?

The Oilers added Jarry and younger ahead Samuel Poulin from the Penguins in change for Skinner, veteran defenseman Brett Kulak and a 2029 second-round decide. To make up for the lack of Kulak, Edmonton despatched a 2027 third-round decide to the Nashville Predators for 25-year-old defenseman Spencer Stastney.

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It is simple to see why Oilers basic supervisor Stan Bowman felt compelled to make a deal for one more goaltender. Edmonton is thirtieth within the league with a crew save proportion of .873, and its unique tandem of Skinner and Calvin Pickard mixed to permit 15.6 targets saved above common, per Pure Stat Trick.

That stated, it is arduous to see Jarry fixing the Oilers’ goaltender points, which have persevered all through most of Connor McDavid’s profession. Jarry is off to an excellent begin in 2025-26, however his monitor document has loads of purple flags and Edmonton shipped off a second-round decide with out getting any wage retention.

This commerce is a lateral transfer and one other instance of the Oilers’ lack of creativeness on the subject of constructing a real contender round McDavid and Leon Drasaitl.

Is Tristan Jarry an improve over Stuart Skinner?

Via the primary two months of the season, there is no such thing as a query that Jarry has been higher than Skinner. Jarry has posted a .909 save proportion to go together with 4.40 targets saved above common and a glowing .880 high-danger save proportion.

Skinner, however, has floundered with the remainder of the Oilers. He is flailed his approach to an .891 save proportion, 3.85 targets allowed above common and a .771 high-danger save proportion.

On these grounds, this deal for Jarry makes loads of sense, however the issue right here is that goaltending is very risky. Even unhealthy goalies can look good for 14 appearances and vice versa. That is why you need to take a look at the longer monitor document, and that is the place this deal begins to bitter for Edmonton.

Within the two seasons spanning from 2023-25, Skinner has outplayed Jarry. In January of this yr, Jarry was positioned on waivers due to his poor efficiency. All 31 different groups had the possibility to assert him, together with the Oilers, and none did.

Here is a comparability of Jarry and Skinner over the earlier two seasons with information from Pure Stat Trick:

That is a a lot bigger pattern dimension than the 14 video games Jarry has performed this season, and it is trigger for concern should you’re an Oilers fan. To make issues worse, Jarry would not precisely have a stellar playoff resume, albeit in a small pattern dimension.

In his eight postseason appearances, Jarry has posted an .891 save proportion and a 3.00 GAA. Each of these numbers are worse than Skinner’s, and the previous Edmonton netminder has 50 postseason video games underneath his belt.

The hope for Edmonton is that Jarry continues his robust begin in a brand new locale, however he hasn’t been in a position to maintain a excessive stage of play for some time now.

Oilers falling behind within the West

Regardless of possessing two of the highest 5 gamers on this planet, the Oilers discover themselves at 14-11-6 and clinging to a wild card spot within the Western Convention. With McDavid and Leon Draisaitl within the prime of their careers, Edmonton ought to be a juggernaut alongside the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars. As an alternative, the crew is simply making an attempt to scrape by for now.

That is due partly to the truth that Oilers administration has been content material to tinker across the edges whereas different contenders have made big-time strikes that push the needle of their favor.

Simply take a look at a number of the extra vital strikes Edmonton has revamped the previous few years. Previous to the 2024-25 season, the Oilers let two promising younger gamers (and restricted free brokers) stroll out the door in Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg. That very same offseason, Edmonton introduced in getting old forwards Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson to bolster its high six. These strikes backfired nearly instantly.

In 2023-24, the Oilers landed veteran Adam Henrique from the Anaheim Geese in a commerce. On the time, Henrique appeared like he may give Edmonton worthwhile depth down the center. As an alternative, Henrique has totaled simply 20 targets and 25 assists in 134 video games with the crew.

The Oilers’ incapacity to repair their goaltending points is perhaps the largest condemnation of the entrance workplace. For the reason that begin of the 2021-22 season, Edmonton has rolled out Mike Smith, Mikko Koskinen, Jack Campbell, Skinner, Pickard and now Jarry. Every transfer has been — at greatest — lateral with no goalie offering reliability when it issues most.

Now evaluate the Oilers to groups just like the Florida Panthers, Vegas Golden Knights, Tampa Bay Lightning, Avalanche and Stars. When a real impression participant turns into obtainable, these groups will transfer heaven and Earth in the event that they assume that participant can get them over the hump. That features letting franchise stars who’re previous their prime stroll in free company, buying and selling productive roster gamers and forking over one future asset after one other.

McDavid signed a brief two-year extension at the beginning of this season, so Edmonton is just assured to have him via 2027-28. That ought to create some urgency for the Oilers of their quest to construct a Cup champion, however the acquisition for Jarry is perhaps one other single whereas different contenders swing for the fences.