The Edmonton Oilers may not be able to carry three NHL-calibre goaltenders forever.
For now, Edmonton is starting the season with Tristan Jarry and Devon Levi, while Frederik Andersen is on the injured/non-roster list. The Oilers have essentially created a three-goalie situation, and eventually something is probably going to have to give.
That makes Jarry an interesting name to watch.
The 31-year-old still has two seasons remaining on his contract at a $5.375 million cap hit and carries a 12-team modified no-trade clause.
Jarry’s first season in Edmonton didn’t go the way the Oilers hoped. After being acquired from Pittsburgh in December, he finished his first 19 games with Edmonton at 9-6-2, posting a .858 save percentage and a 3.86 goals-against average. He eventually lost the job to Connor Ingram and started just one playoff game.
But that doesn’t necessarily mean Edmonton has to simply give up on him.
One team that could make some sense as a trade partner is the New Jersey Devils.
New Jersey entered this season without a proven long-term answer in net. The Devils moved on from Jacob Markstrom and are relying on Jake Allen and Nico Daws, with Rémi Poirier also on the opening roster. NHL.com identified goaltending as the Devils’ biggest challenge heading into the season.
Allen brings plenty of experience, but he’s now 36. Daws, meanwhile, has just 55 NHL games under his belt. The Devils clearly believe he can develop into a dependable NHL option, but there’s still some uncertainty in the crease.
That’s where Jarry becomes interesting.
If Jarry can rediscover the form that made him a legitimate NHL starter in Pittsburgh, New Jersey could potentially give him another opportunity to establish himself as a No. 1 goaltender.
For Edmonton, the argument would be different.
The Oilers already have Levi, a 24-year-old goaltender the organization acquired from Buffalo this summer, and Andersen is expected to return from injury. NHL.com’s season preview described Edmonton’s expected three-goalie setup as one of the team’s major questions heading into the season.
If Levi proves he can handle NHL minutes and Andersen returns healthy, Edmonton could eventually decide that moving Jarry makes more sense than keeping three goalies competing for playing time.
The difficult part would be the money.
Jarry’s $5.375 million cap hit isn’t insignificant, and New Jersey would have to make the numbers work. His modified no-trade clause would also mean the Devils would have to be a team he’s willing to go to.
A hypothetical deal could look something like this:
Edmonton receives: a draft pick and a lower-cost roster piece
New Jersey receives: Tristan Jarry
The exact return would depend heavily on how Jarry performs over the next few months and whether Edmonton is actually looking to move him.
This isn’t a report that Edmonton and New Jersey are discussing a trade. It’s simply a scenario that could make sense if the Oilers decide they don’t want to continue with three NHL goalies.
And honestly, the next few months could determine whether this becomes a legitimate conversation.
If Jarry plays well, Edmonton may have a valuable veteran goaltender. If Levi establishes himself and Andersen returns healthy, the Oilers could suddenly have a decision to make.
For now, Jarry has an opportunity to change the conversation himself.
This article is a hypothetical trade scenario and is not reporting that the Edmonton Oilers and New Jersey Devils are currently discussing a Tristan Jarry trade.
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