CRANBERRY, Pa. — The blustery winds of change blew threw the Pittsburgh Penguins’ practice facility Friday. The bubbling trade talks involving goalie Tristan Jarry and the Edmonton Oilers came to fruition, and for the first time since the 2015-16 season, Jarry will not be part of the goaltending situation.

Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas met the media face-to-face Friday afternoon following the team’s optional practice.

The trade caught many by surprise, but it was certainly not shocking. In return for Jarry, the Penguins received Brett Kulak, a defenseman who could upgrade two or three of their left-handed spots, a 2029 second-round pick, and beleaguered goalie Stuart Skinner.

Jarry had begun to assert himself in the Penguins platoon and claim the net as a No. 1 netminder. Jarry posted a .909 save percentage, and teammates credited him with stealing several points over the Penguins’ recent stretch.

Dubas seemed to vaguely hint at trading Jarry while the getting was good, and also perhaps acquiring Skinner while his stock is low. This season, Skinner has posted a mere .891 save percentage and has become the focal point of public consternation over Edmonton’s struggles.

“I think with goaltending comes a certain sense of volatility. There are very few goalies in the league that have that linear progression night after night and and it’s an up and down profession,” Dubas said. “It’s a very tough profession, and I don’t think we’ve at times made it the easiest position to play with our play in front of him over the years.

“I think in (Jarry’s) case, I would say that this year he probably had been working out as intended. I mean, he’d steadied himself at the end of last season, came back from being sent to the minors, played very well and just think with where we’re at … and the opportunity to bring in a goalie that has deep experience in (Skinner), plus what we feel is an ability to upgrade our defense plus the draft pick, it just it made sense for us to do it at this time.”

Skinner has backstopped the Oilers to two straight Stanley Cup Finals, but has done so with subpar save percentages.

Dubas also noted that there was no fear of playing Jarry Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens, essentially admitting that if Jarry were injured, they were happy to keep him.

“There are always discussions ongoing, but no, that was never the fear. If something had happened, it’s a player that has obviously been a very good player for us this season and in Pittsburgh for a number of seasons,” said Dubas. “So, if that derailed it because of the one game, then that’s fine, but I think we’re going into every day trying to win every game, and it was his start last night. No, no contemplation of (sitting Jarry) at all.”

There is also the matter of Sergei Murashov. The organization’s 21-year-old top goalie prospect showed well in a couple of games earlier this season and continues to post extraordinary numbers in the AHL.

Dubas shrugged off any notion that Jarry’s trade and Skinner’s acquisition would accelerate or impede Murashov’s march to the NHL.

“We want (the goalies) to compete. (Arturs Silovs) had a great start, and now he’s got his chance to rebound from a tougher stretch. Now, the thing that (the trade) does is that beyond this year, there’s no real commitment. So the door is wide open for anybody who wants to grab it, and I think Sergei has been very consistent over the two seasons here.

“Obviousl,y it’s a little easier when you have the two guys (Murashov, Joel Blomqvist) down there that are putting up those sorts of performances night in and night out. Our hope is that they continue to push above. It’ll be Stu and Artie here in the net for the foreseeable future, competing here as well.”

Skinner’s three-year contract with a $2.6 million cap hit expires after this season, and the 27-year-old will be an unrestricted free agent.

The irony is that the trade for which many Penguins fans clamored has happened, and now the next debate will begin over Skinner, Murashov, and what comes next.

Tags: kyle dubas Penguins Trade Pittsburgh Penguins stuart skinner Tristan Jarry

Categorized: Penguins News