Penguins Have a Goalie Situation; Sullivan Sends Very Loud Message
TORONTO — Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan is not stupid, nor does he live in an insular bubble devoid of media chatter. No, despite coaches’ and players’ claims that they never read or listen to sports media, players and coaches are also keenly aware of its content.
And Sullivan knew exactly what would happen if he put Tristan Jarry on the bench in two of the first three games. Still, he did anyway, choosing to start a 22-year-old rookie goalie against one of the most offensively talented teams in the NHL, the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Oh, that could have gone badly on Saturday. Not quite as bad as the 7-0 beatdown Toronto administered to the helpless Penguins last December, but it was a risk to give a goalie who was ticketed for the AHL just one week ago a second straight start.
In doing so, Sullivan both opened an opportunity for Joel Blomqvist to begin claiming his NHL destiny and an opportunity for every media outlet and fan to begin the “goalie controversy” noise.
Blomqvist seized his opportunity and was very good against Toronto. Reigning Rocket Richard winner Auston Matthews had eight shots and four high-danger scoring chances, including a pair of short breakaways. Blomqvist stopped them all.
Goalie controversy? You betcha.
Blomqvist has been steady, calm, and a wall in the net. Sure, there is a big downside to putting him in the deep end of the pool too soon. By exposing him to NHL shooters, opponents will inevitably find his weakness before he fixes it–if it can be fixed (See also: Matt Murray’s glove side).
The upside is that Blomqvist gave the Penguins a better chance to win in Detroit and Toronto than Jarry did against New York on opening night.
In fact, Sullivan has clearly and loudly delivered another message to Jarry. It’s the same message delivered last spring when he superglued Jarry to the bench while giving Alex Nedeljkovic the final 13 starts of the season.
No, Sullivan won’t publicly admit to losing confidence in Jarry or using the bench time to send a message. Despite coaching under John Tortorella for nearly a decade, Sullivan eschews Tortorella’s publicly blunt responses.
Two seasons ago, Tortorella referred to struggling prospect Morgan Frost as a “toilet seat” because he was up and down. Sullivan knows what he’s doing but will not do the same to Jarry.
Instead, the message is being delivered through actions.
Make no mistake, if Sullivan believed Jarry was his No. 1 goalie, he would have started Saturday, just as Sullivan would have gone back to him last April after one of the overtime losses.
Of the last 17 Penguins games dating back to March 22, Jarry has started twice. He was pulled against Dallas after allowing four goals on 20 shots. Jarry could have been pulled again during the first game of this season, the 6-0 loss to the New York Rangers. Sullivan likely would have yanked Jarry in favor of Alex Nedeljkovic but chose discretion, not wanting to expose Blomqvist to that game and needing him the next night.
Coaches often want to protect their players from unfair public situations. Former Penguins president of hockey operations Brian Burke’s book details stories of the team making comments to pull attention away from Phil Kessel, who was the center of a fan-driven firestorm in Toronto in the year before his trade to the Penguins.
Players and coaches know very well what’s being said and written.
A coach who firmly believed in Jarry would have gone back to him Saturday, no matter how well the rookie played in Game 2. Sullivan seemed to acknowledge the coaches changed their goalie schedule following Blomqvist’s performance on Thursday.
“It had an impact,” said Sullivan.
And Sullivan had a little fun with the Toronto media, who wanted to ask his impressions of Blomqvist.
“He’s a very good goalie. He’s athletic. He makes a lot of saves,” said Sullivan with the slightest flash of a wry smile before simply ending his answer.
But Sullivan also knew the distracting storyline that would arise. He chose to start the unproven third goalie at some risk to Blomqvist and the team. Yet, it’s been a long time since Sullivan called Jarry’s name in consecutive games, and Sullivan probably won’t call it Monday in Montreal—there’s no reason to pull Blomqvist out now.
The messages, internally and externally, are quite clear.
What the Penguins do in a week or so when Nedeljkovic is healthy and the team needs to shed a roster spot is suddenly a lot more interesting. Of course, Blomqvist could give back the momentum with a poor performance, and everyone would understand, but that somehow seems unlikely. Blomqvist posted a .921 save percentage with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins last year before a short, shaky playoff series.
Sullivan would have known Blomqvist wouldn’t be around in a week, too, and he still started him.
Message sent loud and clear.
”OK, let’s have at it. While the fanbase rejoices in Blomqvist’s stellar performance as proof of concept that Jarry should play in Wheeling or Siberia, and anyone … ANYONE … else should be in the Penguins net, the reality is a little bit different.
And anyone who tells you differently is producing fan porn.
So, if you’re lining up to shake your fist and demand Jarry’s ouster, you may want to hit the gym to get in shape because you’ll be doing it for quite a while.”
😂
The proper response should be that Jarry will not finish his contract here. With two young goalies waiting that is a given. Whether it’s at the deadline or over the summer is yet TBD.
How quickly he changed THAT tune!
Jarry has had three years to get it together. It isn’t going to happen.
Great message! We are playing to win, and every game matters and will put the best team possible on the ice.
Jarry is done
I was very impressed with Blomqvist even in the loss. He clearly belongs in the NHL. As I said back when he signed it, that Jarry contract was a mistake. He needs traded, even if it’s just for cap relief. He’s not a franchise goaltender. He never makes the big or timely save when the team needs it. Way too many soft goals. It seems like he checks out mentally at key moments and the puck ends up behind him. Time to move on and get something for him while they still can.
Agreed it is hard to watch him play in goal!!
Glad to see you no longer think Jarry’s job security is fan porn. He’ll be waived or traded (4th rd pick?) in November, and he’ll become someone else’s depth piece. This team does not need him. Every game…EVERY ONE….matters early in the season. Pens cannot afford to fall behind in the standings early. Assuming Ned is 100% healthy, he and Blom will alternate until one gets the hot hand and goes on a run. Meanwhile, Murashov waits in the wings. I actually have some respect for Teflon Mike in how he has handled this situation. Let’s see if he continues… Read more »
Let the best players play, but I do expect Blommer to be sent down as soon as Ned is ready.
This is quite interesting. I hope the tandem or the trio of goalies pushes one another to be the best player on the ice each night. It’s only been 3 games, but there is a pipeline of NHL or soon to be NHL goalies in the Pens system. I still think Jarry has the athleticism to be a top-10 goalie, but he just lets in the soft goal at the worst moment. He’s a change of scene candidate. Dubas is going to trade him between now and the off-season, if there’s a willing partner in need of goaltending. It may… Read more »
Let us hope we get rid of him. It is painful to watch him goal.
I think he is giving Joel a taste of as much nhl time before he goes back to WBS. When ned comes back, there won’t be another chance until ned or jarry are moved or injured again. Also, being able to see what he has in Joel makes Dubas job with getting a goalie out easier. Run 1a 1b with jarry and Joel next few years until they get out of jarry. Hopefully murashov blossoms nicely too and then have 2 good goalies to split time. Jarrys inconsistencies are too big to overcome with a team that had a poor… Read more »
It’s also as easy as “not a B2B game” and you play the goalie that just won the last game. No point to change the lineup. People making mountains out of molehills.
I hope Jarry gets traded to a good team. My money would be on him. This is a flawed team and the team was worse than they are now in the past 2 years. Blaming Jarry makes some people feel better. After he is traded, we will have the same problems. This team struggles to score. Why? We have one point per game player and he is 37. This team gives up odd man rushes like it is part of the game plan. Giving anyone on this defense above a C is a joke. They are out of position and… Read more »
you had me at “I hope Jarry gets traded”
Love your post. He needs to go!!
Several of my family love the
PENS but refuse to watch if he in goal. That sad ! 😭
If McGroarty doesn’t start making more of an impact Sullivan needs to send him the same message with some press box nachos. I want him playing but he needs to earn the spot.
He’s going to Wilkes-Barre soon
yes, that’s how you develop a player, threaten to demote him after his first 3 professional games
Do teams (specifically the Penguins) have any Sports Psychologists on their payroll? Seems like every time an athlete uses one, things turn for the positive. At the end of last season and (what appeared to be) no fight to get back in the net at the end of the season, I think one of these goalies could use a few sessions. Apparently confidence in professional athletes is fragile and fleeting… why not get engaged with someone who can help their mindfulness off the ice?
If I remember correctly, Matt Murray has used one. Nuff said.
Fleury too when he was with the Pens.
Jarry is a head case, just like Murray before him. Unfortunately they are stuck with him apparently, unless Oilers goaltending continues to suck. Skinner is another head case there, maybe they take a shot at Jarry who won a Memorial Cup in Edmonton playing juniors.
At this point it is beyond clear that Jarry’s time in Pittsburgh needs to come to an end – for the long term benefit of all parties concerned.
Hopefully Dubas can move him to a team looking for goaltending depth and willing to take on a rather expensive reclamation project. Pens will have to eat some salary but it will be worth it.
Jarry may not be washed up entirely but he’s washed up here.
Colorado’s goalies aren’t doing well right now. Send Jarry for Georgiev and get Ludvig back, plus maybe a draft pick. Georgiev’s contract expires after this year so the Pens won’t be hampered with Jarry’s extra years. That opens the door for one the Penguins young goalies to step in even if it’s as a backup. Plus the Pens would save about $1.1m in cap space for later moves needed around the trade deadline. If you send Georgiev to the minors and he doesn’t clear waivers, then Sullivan won’t have the luxury of turning to another veteran. He’d have to play… Read more »
They signed Ned because they weren’t sure of Blomqvist.
When the time comes, Ned becomes the expendable one, not Jarry. Jarry has 250+ game experience, several all star appearances, led league in shut out last year, signed to a very fair contract.. like 12th highest paid goalie, when the contracts will only get higher going forward.
If penguins were solely in rebuild, then yeah, Jarry goes, but they stated they are trying to remain competitive while building. So Jarry says. No GM who is trying to remain competitive would gamble on Blomqvist/Ned combo… That’s a rebuilding team duo.
That defense needs to play better no matter who’s in goal.