Trading local boy Stuart Skinner to Pittsburgh felt risky; he had flashes of brilliance, but there was no consistency. One game he played was hockey without lights; the next game, not so much. So the Oilers brought him to Pittsburgh for Tristan Jarry. Bold move. High stakes. And like most things in hockey, the payoff isn’t always immediately apparent.
Jarry looked good when he played, but an injury halted his momentum
When Jarry arrived, he immediately gave the Oilers a sense of calm. He was going 3-0 before the injury struck. Statistically, a 3.08 goals against (GAA) and a save percentage of 0.887 are not remarkable. But the real difference? You could see it in the way the team behaved. There’s something contagious about having a goalie who can bail you out of a tough shift, and Jarry did just that.
Even in that short time frame, Jarry proved he can steal games. Edmonton didn’t need to win. That’s the kind of thing that really counts in March and April, when mistakes compound and one big save can change a game.
Edmonton doesn’t need perfection every night; they need reliability and a goalkeeper who won’t make them pay when the margin for error is razor thin. In that sense, Jarry already gave a taste of what the team was hoping for.
So, was the Jarry Trade worth it?
What does trading look like now? Not flawless. Injuries muddy the waters and we haven’t seen Jarry at full strength in a long time. But the early signs are promising, if he’s healthy. And that’s the deal. Still, Oilers fans know one thing, even if the sample size is small. Jerry can play.
If he can stay healthy (and there’s the biggest two-letter word ever), he can play well. He is calm and has the ability to steal a game. This trade could be one of the most important moves Edmonton makes for their playoff hopes.
Two days ago, Jarry was placed on long-term injured reserve. He’s skating but not quite ready to return and the Oilers will have a scoring decision to make. or walk with three netminders.
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