The Pittsburgh Penguins have several players they could potentially trade as they seek to assemble a short-term solution around Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang, who have been the core of the team for much of the 21st century. This remarkable run has been impressive, but for the Detroit Red Wings, it signals the possibility of acquiring talent from the Steel City through trade, with goaltender Tristan Jarry emerging as a potential target that could pique general manager Steve Yzerman’s interest.
While there has been considerable coverage regarding the potential trade for a goaltender like Jarry, who has been the subject of trade rumors, the possibility remains intriguing. Despite re-signing key restricted free agents like Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond, Detroit still has ample cap space, with over $29 million according to Cap Friendly, and a projection of $26.5 million from Spotrac. Thus, financial constraints are unlikely to hinder the acquisition of Jarry, who is due $6.4 million this year. However, the question remains: would he be worth the risk?
One potential deterrent for Steve Yzerman in considering a trade for Jarry is recent history, particularly the struggles experienced by goaltender Ville Husso. However, when Jarry performs at his best, he demonstrates Vezina Trophy caliber skills, as evidenced by his six shutouts and impressive 0.604 quality starts percentage this season. Yet, his inconsistencies have often led to doubts about his reliability, making him appear at times as a borderline AHL talent. Despite this, acquiring Jarry, even in his inconsistent form, might still represent an improvement over Husso.
Ultimately, whether Yzerman decides to pursue a trade for Jarry to create cap space and bolster the Red Wings’ goaltending remains uncertain. There may be better options available than Jarry, and it would be surprising to see Yzerman take another gamble on a goaltender trade. However, the pressing need for improved goaltending in Detroit is evident, and Jarry represents a potential upgrade over their current options.
