Concern That Tristan Jarry Is Injury Prone? Not So Fast

The Edmonton Oilers were finally starting to find some stability in the aftermath of the Tristan Jarry trade. Nearly a week removed from the whirlwind Friday that brought him to Oil Country — with the rematch against Stuart Skinner, Brett Kulak, and the Penguins already in the rear-view mirror — it felt like things were beginning to settle.

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Unfortunately, that sense of normalcy didn’t last long. As we know, Jarry suffered a lower-body injury pushing across the crease in the second period of Thursday night’s win in Boston. The newly acquired goaltender has since been placed on injured reserve and sent back to Edmonton for further evaluation, prompting the Oilers to recall fellow trade acquisition Connor Ingram.

It’s the last thing Edmonton or its fans wanted to see in Jarry’s third start with the team. Still, everyone understood the risk that came with acquiring the two-time All-Star. His injury history is well documented, and Thursday’s early exit quickly reignited the narrative that he’s injury-prone.

At first glance, that might seem like the case, but a closer look at the injuries Jarry dealt with in Pittsburgh — and how severe they actually were — tells a different story.

Is Tristan Jarry Injury-Prone?

While suffering a non-contact injury in his third start with a new team — especially after already missing time earlier this season — isn’t an ideal early impression, it may not be as alarming as it initially appears.

Oilers reporter Jason Gregor broke down just how much time Jarry has actually missed during his recent stints on the shelf, offering some important context.

Gregor said:

“Not sure this makes you injury prone. Had one stretch. Jarry missed 28 games from April 2022 to Feb 2023. He has missed 12 games the other 7 years. Did miss 7 games earlier this year, and likely will a few weeks depending on what diagnosis is. Seemed like a strain,”

As Gregor noted, outside of one extended absence caused by a broken foot — something largely out of Jarry’s control — his ailments have relatively minor and shorter term. In many cases, the injuries stemmed from routine crease movements where he appeared to tweak something, similarly to this one— never what you want to see, but he has consistently found ways to return in a timely fashion.

With that in mind, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Jarry back in action sooner rather than later — potentially even shortly after the Christmas break once he serves the minimum three games required while on injured reserve. Even if his return takes a bit longer, Oilers fans shouldn’t panic, as his track record suggests these absences are typically short-lived and far from evidence that he’s truly injury-prone.

Not to mention, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are absolutely scorching right now, so as long as Ingram and Calvin Pickard can provide competent enough goaltending, Edmonton’s dynamic duo should be able to keep the winning ways going until Jarry is fully healthy.

Next: 3 Trades That Could Happen Before the NHL Roster Freeze