Followers of the Edmonton Oilers and Pittsburgh Penguins (and, to some extent the Nashville Predators) bought large breaking information on this Friday morning as Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman first reported on X (previously Twitter) that the Edmonton Oilers have been closing in on a number of trades. Headlining the offers was an enormous goaltender swap. The Oilers despatched their starter to the Pittsburgh Penguins for goaltender Tristan Jarry.
Affirmation then got here that the deal would contain Edmonton sending Stuart Skinner, Brett Kulak, and a 2029 second-round choose to Pittsburgh for Jarry and former first-round choose (twenty first total, 2019) Sam Poulin.
Kyle Dubas and the Penguins aren’t retaining any wage, which is why the Oilers needed to go virtually dollar-for-dollar by shedding Skinner’s and Kulak’s contracts — each pending UFAs — to get near matching Jarry’s $5.875 million AAV.
Jarry has had a bounce-back season to this point, posting a 9-3-1 file to go together with a 2.66 goals-against common, a .909 save share, and one shutout in 13 begins. The 30-year-old is within the third season of the aforementioned five-year, $26.875 million extension he signed with the Penguins again in 2023.
In the meantime, within the smaller secondary transfer, Edmonton coughed up a 2027 third-round choose in alternate for Spencer Stastney, who will possible assume Kulak’s position on the left aspect of the underside protection pairing.
Stastney, 25, has produced 9 factors (one objective, eight assists) in 30 video games performed this season, and is within the second 12 months of the two-year, $1.65 million extension he inked with the Predators in 2024.
Now that we’ve bought the entire particulars from this flurry of exercise, it solely is sensible to dive into some commerce grades.
Tristan Jarry for Stuart Skinner, Brett Kulak, and a Second
Edmonton: C+
It is a dangerous transfer for the Oilers, there’s little doubt about it. Whereas Jarry has performed just like the two-time All-Star he’s to this point this season, the pattern measurement is small at simply 14 video games, and we will’t overlook that he struggled so mightily that he was within the AHL only one 12 months in the past. Stan Bowman spoke with the media after the commerce on Friday and stated, ” … we needed to see how he began this 12 months and we watched them very carefully. We’ve been impressed along with his efficiency over the course of his profession. I feel he’s proven to be a really strong goaltender. Quite a lot of the metrics that we monitor, he’s been excellent on these for a few years and a big pattern measurement.”
Bowman added, “It’s not a lot a touch upon the Stuart Skinner, it’s simply actually perhaps time for one thing completely different right here, however I feel we need to make it possible for the particular person we have been bringing in we felt assured when you already know the truth that he’s bought two extra years on his contract.” He famous that the concept that they’ve their starter over the following three playoff runs was a giant a part of the commerce. “I feel it’s essential realizing he’s signed and it’s a quantity that we’re going to match effectively in our wage cap over the approaching couple of seasons.”
Not getting Dubas to retain any cash can be a tricky capsule to swallow, particularly because it prevented them from retaining Skinner to roll in tandem with Jarry, so the crease is now all his in Edmonton.
Jason Gregor said it best: Jarry has greater upside than Skinner, and they’ll want him to play to that potential to ensure that this commerce to not blow up of their face. If he’s constant and stays wholesome, then Edmonton might need lastly discovered the beginning goalie it’s desperately been trying to find, however that’s a giant if, and it definitely doesn’t come with out some query marks.
Pittsburgh: A-
There’s not a lot to dislike from the Penguins’ perspective with regards to this commerce. Jarry has been extraordinarily inconsistent and injury-prone over the past a number of years, and previous to his sturdy begin to 2025-26, shedding his full wage would have been not possible.
That being stated, he has been a catalyst of their success to this point and an enormous think about why they at present sit within the playoff image, so within the right here and now, this does damage their push for the postseason.
Sidney Crosby and the veterans will not be keen on the transfer, however because the Penguins proceed their rebuild, that is par for the course, buying one other second-round draft choose and two expiring contracts that might very effectively be flipped on the deadline for extra future belongings.
Spencer Stastney for a Third
Edmonton: B
Figuring out that they have been going to have to incorporate Kulak within the Jarry commerce, Stan Bowman was compelled to discover a low-cost left-shot defenseman to fill the void, which they hope Stastney can do.
The fifth-round choose (131st total) from 2018 solely has 81 video games of NHL expertise beneath his belt, although he’s been a daily on the Predators’ blue line this season and has been regular within the course of.
A 3rd-round choose shouldn’t be nothing for a workforce that’s dealt away loads of draft capital over time as they compete for the Stanley Cup, however Nashville had all of the leverage right here, so Edmonton actually didn’t have a lot of a alternative.
As they did by waiving Troy Stecher to permit younger our bodies in Ty Emberson and Alec Regula extra alternative, the Oilers go with the youth and upside of Stastney over Kulak.
Subsequent: Newest NHL Commerce Buzz: Massive Identify Targets, Canucks, Sabres
