The Pittsburgh Penguins’ goaltending situation has become a hotbed of speculation, with Tristan Jarry at the center of the storm. After a rollercoaster season that included a stint in the minors, Jarry’s recent resurgence has thrown a wrench into the Penguins’ offseason plans. The big question: Will he stay or will he go?
Tristan Jarry’s Resurgence: Will he stay with the Penguins?
Penguins insider Mark Madden’s observations have added fuel to the fire. Madden’s recent pronouncements suggest that Jarry’s improved play since his recall from the minors has given the Penguins something to think about. Despite his hefty contract, running through 2027-28 with an average annual value (AAV) of $5.375 million, and the difficulty of trading such a contract without significant salary retention, the team is now faced with a difficult decision.
The reality is, the Penguins can’t afford to keep both Jarry and Alex Nedeljkovic, who has one year remaining on his deal at $2.5 million AAV. Madden correctly points out that having both goalies on the roster is hindering the development of their promising young netminders. A logjam in the crease is never a good thing.
The buyout option, while seemingly straightforward, is complicated by Jarry’s recent play. A buyout would result in a cap hit of $1.747 million in 2025-26, jumping to $5.047 million in 2026-27, and $4.547 million in 2027-28, before dropping to just over $797K for the final three years of the contract. This is a considerable amount of dead cap space to consider.
My take? The Penguins are likely to stick with Jarry for the 2025-2026 season. The recent improvement he has shown is too much to ignore. They will then look to trade Nedeljkovic in the offseason. Nedeljkovic’s contract is much easier to move and will net the Penguins some assets. The Penguins need to start building for the future and that means shedding contracts and getting younger.
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