In a surprising move, the Pittsburgh Penguins have decided to send struggling goaltender Tristan Jarry home in order to give him the opportunity to work individually and hopefully break out of his early season slump. Coach Mike Sullivan announced the decision on Thursday as the Penguins embarked on a four-game road trip through Western Canada, with the next game scheduled for Friday in Edmonton.
Jarry, who has a record of 1-1-0 in three games this season, has been struggling with a 5.47 goals against average and an .836 save percentage. The two-time All-Star has not seen game action since being pulled after allowing three goals on five shots in the first period of a game against Buffalo on October 16, which the Penguins eventually won in overtime.
In an effort to help Jarry find his form, Sullivan revealed that Jarry will be working closely with Jon Elkin, the team’s director of goaltending. “It’s just part of the process we’ve put in place in here over the next little while to help Tristan get to his very best,” Sullivan explained.
Jarry, who is currently in the second year of a five-year contract extension signed in July 2023, led the NHL with six shutouts last season. However, his performance faltered towards the end of the season, leading to his benching in favor of Alex Nedjelkovic. This season, Jarry’s struggles have continued, prompting the Penguins to take this step to help him reset.
“The first couple of starts that he’s had haven’t been his best,” Sullivan admitted. “I’m probably stating the obvious when I say that. But it’s our responsibility to help players through some of the struggles they inevitably go through in this league, and Tristan is no different.”
In Jarry’s absence, Alex Nedjelkovic and rookie Joel Blomqvist will be sharing goaltending duties for the Penguins, who are currently on a three-game losing streak. The team will wrap up their road trip in Vancouver on Saturday before heading back to Pittsburgh for a three-game homestand next week. As for Jarry, it remains uncertain when he will be returning to the ice.
The Penguins are hopeful that this time away will help Jarry refocus and come back stronger than ever as they continue their quest for success this season.