The Edmonton Oilers’ search for goal depth may have taken an unexpected twist following the Penguins’ acquisition of Arturs Silovs. NHL insider Jeff Marek recently speculated about a potential connection between the Oilers and Pittsburgh goaltender Tristan Jarry, and the timing now seems even more intriguing.
Prior to Sunday’s deal for Silovs, all signs pointed toward Jarry being the undisputed starting goalie for Pittsburgh heading into the 2025-26 campaign.
It’s a surprising scenario considering how rough things looked for Jarry just a year ago. But a strong finish to last season helped shift that perception. His improved form gave general manager Kyle Dubas enough confidence to ship out Alex Nedeljkovic to the Sharks and give Joel Blomqvist a real shot at earning the backup role during training camp. Heading into the offseason, Jarry appeared set to shoulder most of the workload next season—unless something major disrupted that plan.
That disruption came on Sunday. While the trade itself may have flown under the radar, Pittsburgh’s move to bring in Silovs from the Canucks could end up being significant. Silovs had a standout year in the AHL and seems ready to step into a more regular NHL role, potentially putting pressure on both Jarry and Blomqvist.
Trading Jarry might not be straightforward, but it’s not out of the question. Jeff Marek floated the idea of the Oilers making a move for Jarry while discussing Edmonton’s goalie situation. His remarks now feel even more relevant following the Silovs acquisition.
The rumor surfaced through a post by NHL Rumour Report on X, which features Marek’s quote.
Jeff Marek: “Re Oilers goalie search: I don’t know how Bowman’s gonna do this; I’ve wondered… about someone like Tristan Jarry. It would certainly take some retention on the Pittsburgh side of things.” – Inside Sports
As Marek alluded to, any deal that involve Jarry would likely require Pittsburgh to retain a portion of his $5.375 million cap hit. However, with more than $13 million in cap room, the Penguins have the flexibility to accommodate such a move if it helps them rework their goaltending setup.
The Oilers have long been a team loosely linked to Jarry. A return to Edmonton wouldn’t be unfamiliar territory for the 30-year-old netminder, who played his entire WHL career with the Edmonton Oil Kings. His past success there could play into a potential reunion.
There are certainly questions about Jarry’s consistency. At times, he’s looked far from reliable. That said, when he’s on his game, he’s arguably stronger than either of the Oilers’ current options in Stuart Skinner or Calvin Pickard. Edmonton’s more structured defensive core could help Jarry rediscover the form that made him a two-time All-Star.
Pulling off a deal wouldn’t be simple, but there are enough moving parts to suggest that a Jarry-to-Oilers scenario might not be as far-fetched as it initially seemed.
