Edmonton Oilers
“It’s an Act of Desperation” Says Former GM of Oilers Jarry Trade
Was the Tristan Jarry trade for the Edmonton Oilers and act of desperation? One former NHL GM seems to think so.
Did the Edmonton Oilers panic when they made the move to acquire Tristan Jarry from the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday? Some analysts and insiders believe they might have, and former general manager Doug MaClean is among them.
MacLean was like many over the past 24 hours who argued that the move is a lateral one at best. He noted that a scout even recently told him they like Skinner better. In the meantime, the Oilers took from their blue line and gave away a draft pick to make the trade work, taking on Jarry’s full salary in the process.
MacLean explained:
“You’re putting extreme pressure on a guy like Jarry. Twelve months ago, he was waived to the league and was in the minors. I understand he went to the minors because of the $5 million — I get that. I know he’s had a decent year, with around a .908–.909 save percentage in 14 games played. You’re bringing him in, and you’re hurting your back end a little bit. Kulak is a really good No. 5 or 6 guy — we know that. Now you’re replacing him with Stastney and Regula as your 5–6. I know they’re top-four types, but still.”
MacLean added, “I was not excited about the deal for Edmonton. I really wasn’t. I hope I’m wrong, I hope I’m wrong, but I think it’s a little bit of an act of desperation.”
When asked if the Oilers looked at the goalie market and determined their options were not going to get better, so the need was to do this now, MacLean responded, “There’s no doubt they did that. They would have been crazy not to do that.” He explained that if you look around the NHL, there’s lot of injuries and struggling goaltenders around the NHL. “I would have waited… to see what else broke,” he noted.
GM Stan Bowman’s comments suggest that MacLean has it wrong. Bowman said that Jarry was a player the Oilers had been looking at for some time. They’d been keeping track of him before last season and the dip in his play during the 2024-25 season was what slowed their play to acquire him. The Oilers said they needed to see how Jarry would respond this year, which he’s done quite well.
The first few games of the Oilers’ season following this deal — starting with their game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday — will be the true test of how this deal is going to sit, and Bowman, ultimately, will be judged. Whether the feeling was that Skinner had to go or that Jarry is the guy, wins and points are the only thing that matters.
The Oilers have made their bed with Jarry as their starter and hopeful playoff hero. He’s got only eight games of experience to go on.
Next: Oilers Not Finished After Jarry Trade as Deadline Picture Comes Into Focus
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