Oilers GM Stan Bowman gets the goalie he was after in Tristan Jarry trade

From the moment Stuart Skinner was pulled in the Stanley Cup Final, his future with the Oilers was in doubt.

But it’s one thing to feel that way. It’s another to go out and find his replacement.

Oilers general manager Stan Bowman began talking with his Pittsburgh Penguins counterpart Kyle Dubas over the summer about Tristan Jarry. They would end up having around 10 discussions between then and Friday, when they completed a trade to bring Jarry and 2019 first-round pick Samuel Poulin to Edmonton in exchange for Skinner, defenseman Brett Kulak and a 2029 second-round pick.

After laying the groundwork in the summer, the Oilers watched Jarry closely early this season, monitoring his resurgence in net.

Eleven months ago, Jarry went unclaimed on waivers in part because of the term and salary left on his contract. On Friday, it’s that very contract and the cost certainty that comes with it that Bowman told media was a huge reason for pulling the trigger on the deal.

Is there a better example of the goalie chaos and uncertainty that exists in the modern NHL?

Skinner is a pending unrestricted free agent, and the Oilers weren’t comfortable going down the road of an extension with him after his inconsistent play again this season. Now they’re hoping Jarry’s resurgence is for real, and if it is, his $5.38 million average annual value through the 2027-28 season fits their plans.

But this is a move absolutely fraught with risk. Jarry has a .909 save percentage this season, but he had declined in each of the previous four, from .919 to .909 to .903 to .892. He was lost and in the AHL just 11 months ago.

Can anyone know for sure that his game is back for good?

“I like Jarry. He’s big and very skilled, good hands and feet,” former NHL goalie and NHL goalie coach and TSN analyst Jamie McLennan told The Athletic on Friday. “He handles the puck well, too. Only concern has been injuries and some consistency, but the upside is there for sure.

“He plays a different style than Stu — more athletic. Jarry can move well. His style might be more conducive to the way Edmonton plays.”

That last bit — Jarry’s ability to move side to side, in particular — could be a big part of this move from an Oilers’ perspective.

McLennan did note that there will likely be an adjustment period for Jarry, who’s only played with the Penguins in his NHL career.

Was Jarry really the best available option? Some Oilers fans had been hoping for 2019 Stanley Cup and 4 Nations championship goalie Jordan Binnington.

The reality is that Binnington has a 14-team no-trade list and the Oilers are among the 14 teams he can’t be traded to without his consent. And a league source said Friday that Binnington hasn’t been approached about waving for any trade this season.

Also, after the Blues signed Oilers youngsters Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg to offer sheets two off-seasons ago, the Oilers might not be too keen on dealing with St. Louis.

No, Jarry was the guy that Bowman was most focused on since last summer. It is so hard to upgrade in-season in goal, and there are no guarantees.

Almost a year ago to the day, on Dec. 9, 2024, the Colorado Avalanche acquired MacKenzie Blackwood from the San Jose Sharks. The underlying numbers on a healthier Blackwood suggested it was a decent bet, but let’s be real and point out that few people thought Colorado had definitely fixed its net.

Blackwood had a .911 save percentage with San Jose at the time of that trade to Colorado, pretty close to where Jarry’s at this season.

As it turns out, Avs GM Chris McFarland hit a home run with his goaltending revamp, bringing in Blackwood and also acquiring Scott Wedgewood last season.

Can the Oilers do the same? They would probably settle for a single. It’s less about stealing big playoff wins next spring and more about providing a consistent floor.

Skinner was awesome in beating the Stars in the Western Conference final last season. He was shaky and pulled in the Cup Final. The Oilers no longer could gamble with not knowing which version of Skinner they were going to get.

“Even if it’s a lateral move, I felt the Oilers needed to make a move in net,” McLennan said.

And don’t forget Connor Ingram could also be part of things in the Oilers net before the end of the season. This could end up being Jarry-Ingram come playoff time

Does the revamp work like it did in Colorado, or blow up in the Oilers’ face?

There’s a lot riding on the answer. Because remember: When Connor McDavid signed his two-year extension before the season, it put the Oilers’ front office on notice to do all it could to give the team the best possible shot at winning the Cup in that window.

Sitting back and doing nothing about the goaltending wasn’t an option.