Oilers Criticized for Years of Mishandling Goalie Situation Ending in Tristan Jarry

The Edmonton Oilers finally made a move for what they hope to be the solution to their long-standing goaltending woes by trading for Tristan Jarry on Friday morning. It’s a deal that GM Stan Bowman has already taken plenty of heat for, sending Stuart Skinner, Brett Kulak, and a 2029 second-round pick to acquire the up-and-down netminder with no salary retention, just one year removed from being sent to the minors.

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While it’s easy to criticize the move in the moment, what’s drawn just as much blowback is how the Oilers even got here in the first place.

Analyst Cam Robinson highlighted some of the goalie opportunities Edmonton has let slip away over the years, noting that whatever Jarry gives them — for better or worse — is the consequence of waiting this long.

Robinson wrote:

“Askarov was traded. Knight was traded. Wallstedt was sitting on the podium waiting for you on draft day. Hell, Silovs was available for spare change. Edmonton only has itself to blame for its goaltending situation.”

The aforementioned Yaroslav Askarov and Spencer Knight were, of course, traded to San Jose and Chicago, respectively, and both now look like franchise goaltenders in the making.

Jesper Wallstedt, who has been unbelievable this season, was drafted by the Minnesota Wild, who leapfrogged the Oilers to select him 20th overall in 2021 thanks to Edmonton’s decision to trade back on draft night.

And lastly, Arturs Silovs was acquired by the Pittsburgh Penguins for Chase Stillman and a 2027 fourth-round pick this past summer, a price that almost anyone could have matched or surpassed.

The Pressure is on Tristan Jarry and the Edmonton Oilers 

Looking back on all of those decisions, or lack thereof, is head-scratching, but the focus now shifts entirely onto Jarry and how he will fare as an Oiler.

He’ll be stepping into the most pressure-packed situation of his NHL career, joining an Edmonton team in full Stanley Cup–or–bust mode, led by two of the best players in the world who inch towards the back half of their prime.

There was pressure playing in Pittsburgh alongside Sidney Crosby, but that core had already won three Stanley Cups, so the expectations were different by the time Jarry came along.

His limited postseason experience hasn’t gone well, but Jarry now has the opportunity to prove to the hockey world that he’s worthy of the Oilers taking a chance on him, and if he can play up to his two-time All-Star potential, there’s no doubt he’s the best option Edmonton has had in net in quite some time.

Next: Trade Grades: Oilers Land Tristan Jarry and Spencer Stastney