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Oilers' Insider reveals Jarry dealt with off ice issue during down year in Pittsburgh
Photo credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images
Sometimes, understanding a person's circumstances gives one a better appreciation of the man behind the goalie mask.
With the following post, top-analyst Bob Stauffer shed some light on the personal issues that may have impacted the newest Edmonton Oilers' goalie, Tristan Jarry.
Goalie speaks to off-ice matters
The most prominent personal struggle Jarry spoke about was the emotional toll of being separated from his pregnant wife while he was on a conditioning loan and then an extended assignment with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL in 2024-25.
He mentioned this was the most difficult part for him, living in a hotel and being away from his primary support system.
An NHL All-Star in 2020 and 2022, Jarry was placed on waivers by the Pittsburgh Penguins in January 2025, after a sustained period of poor performance and inconsistency.
The uncertainty of where he would play if claimed no doubt took its toll and shook his confidence, knowing he wasn't playing to his former high-level and might not have made it back to the NHL.
He cleared waivers and reported to the AHL, a significant fall for a player who had signed a five-year, $5.38M AAV deal just the summer before, on July 1, 2023.
Jarry did recover from that uncertain period, however, and returned to the Penguins stronger and ready to play. In his 13 games with the Pens this season, he has a record of 9-3-1, a 2.66 GAA and .908 save percentage.
The 2.66 GAA is the best he's posted since 2021-22, a career-best 2.42.
Now in Edmonton, he'll have a chance to show why GM Stan Bowman traded for him.