Opinion
No Team Claims Jarry, Who Heads to AHL; Blomqvist Promoted
As widely expected, Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry passed through waivers by the 2 p.m. deadline Thursday without being claimed by another NHL club. The Penguins quickly announced that Jarry has been assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League.
The Penguins said on Wednesday that they would be putting Jarry through waivers. Later that day, Penguins president of hockey operations/general manager Kyle Dubas outlined that Jarry, if he cleared waivers, would be assigned to WBS, with rookie Joel Blomqvist coming up from that affiliate — and Blomqvist was promoted as soon as Jarry cleared.
For now, at least, the team’s goaltending tandem at the NHL level will be Blomqvist and Alex Nedeljkovic. The team is about to embark on a seven-game road trip that will take them across the country and through the end of January.
From the start, this seemed like a season that would solidify or sever Jarry’s standing with the Penguins. It turned out to be the latter, as he struggled, including a two-week stint with WBS in November to try to get his game back. In the end, Jarry, 29, showed a penchant for giving up goals on opponents’ first shot or within their first few shots. He is 8-8-4, with a 3.31 goals-against average and .886 save percentage.
His contract made it difficult to trade Jarry, who is in the second season of a five-year deal that carries a salary-cap hit of $5.375 million. That contract and his performance to this point this season probably also figured into him clearing waivers.
In the offseason, the Penguins could again try to trade Jarry or could buy him out. PHN explored those options.
It’s not known when or how much Jarry will play with WBS. Complicating matters, that team’s home game scheduled Saturday against Belleville has been postponed because of repairs that are needed at Mohegan Arena. Dubas eluded to the problem being significant.
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I hope proves all the naysayers wrong. Let’s see how well Ned doesn’t do. Maybe they will get to the real problem…..Sullivan
31 teams didn’t want him last summer. 31 teams didn’t want him today. At the moment, he’s toast. He probably should be in Wheeling as Gauthier’s backup.
He won’t be proving us wrong here. He was given every opportunity to establish himself as the starter for the long-term. He has failed miserably. Barring injuries to multiple goalies, he’s played his last game here.
Ned will be fine. Blomqvist gets an opportunity to take over the net, become the starter. Ned is good number 2, will compete and serve as steady backup with trust of team
It was a longshot that we was claimed, but the next best alternative will be when he plays well in the AHL, another GM with cap-space and/or goalie issues takes notice. However, I imagine he’s in Wilkes until the summer and certainly prefer a summer trade with retained salary as opposed to a buy-out.
Ned isn’t the #1 answer, he is an adequate back up. Why not trade him and go with the rookies? Isn’t Larson 26 yrs old???
That would be a tough sell for Crosby et al.
If the core want another ring they better look elsewhere. It’s time to rebuilld.
Why? Cant do much worse than 2-5-3 in the last 10. They can do that with me in goal.
Ned will be traded by deadline. If jarry does well he comes back as a split with Joel until he fails. Gets murashov to wbs with Larson to develope.
This is a possibility i had not considered. Plausible, but i think unlikely. I think Jarry has burned his remaining bridge with sully and dubas. He would have to go on a tear in Wilkes to get back to NHL. I hope they keep Ned at least through most of next season. He is relatively inexpensive, and the right sort of role model/influence for new goalie(s) trying to break into league. Can start for stretch if Blom gets hurt or struggles, and Larsson can be called up to back up for stretches. I think Jarry is done in the burgh.
Jarry won’t be back up here unless somebody gets injured. They haven’t even committed to playing him regularly in Wilkes.
No one said he’s the number one answer. He’s there as an NHL veteran to split time with and provide support to Blomqvist.
Yep and Ned is an excellent NHL backup all day for a modest cap hit
No one claimed John Ludvig as well.
How does Jarry going to WBS help bring up that kid from Wheeling? Doesn’t he need more playing time in AHL to develop properly? Maybe they just need to send Jarry home.