There has been a lot of noise surrounding the Edmonton Oilers making a potential goalie trade this weekend, but one big issue is reportedly getting in the way.
Social media exploded on Friday night after the Two Mutts Podcast incorrectly reported that the Pittsburgh Penguins were trading Tristan Jarry to the Oilers. That didn’t wind up happening, and Edmonton went into Saturday night’s game against the Winnipeg Jets with Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard as their tandem.
The noise caused by that report got so loud that NHL insider Elliotte Friedman decided to check in on the situation and provide an update on where things stand. It turns out that the Oilers do have a legitimate interest, but a Jarry trade is much more complicated than it seems.
“There’s been a lot of noise around Tristan Jarry in the last 24 to 48 hours,” Friedman said on the latest edition of Saturday Headlines. “I do think there’s legitimate Edmonton interest in Jarry, but I think it is extremely complicated, and might not be possible. Mainly because Pittsburgh has indicated it will not retain [salary].
“It might not be possible because Edmonton would have to do some roster surgery to get it done, and right now, because of their own injuries and cap situation, they’re really stuck.”
Jarry still has two years left on his deal after this season that carry a hefty $5.375 million cap hit. If the Oilers were to fit that under the cap, they would have to shed significant salary to do so. As Friedman mentioned, injuries to Jake Walman, Jack Roslovic, and Kasperi Kapanen could make that very difficult to do at the moment.
There had been some rumours that Jarry would come in to replace Skinner as Edmonton’s starting goalie, but Friedman poured cold water on that notion. If this deal were to come to fruition, it sounds like the Edmonton native would be sticking around.
“I don’t think it’s a Skinner for Jarry situation,” Friedman said. “I believe the Oilers, what they would like to do if they ever could do this, would be to pair Skinner with Jarry.”
That situation would involve the team moving on from backup Calvin Pickard, who was reportedly very close to being waived earlier this season in favour of AHL farmhand Connor Ingram.
While it sounds less likely now that the Oilers will be pulling the trigger on a Jarry trade, things tend to happen fast in the NHL. Things could certainly change before the holiday break arrives later this month.
