Tristan Jarry's strong performance complicates Penguins' goalie decisions

Tristan Jarry's future with the Pittsburgh Penguins looked bleak earlier this year. After being placed on waivers and sent to their AHL affiliate, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, many thought his time in the NHL might be over. However, since returning to the Penguins about three weeks ago, Jarry has shown improvement. Jarry's recent performance has been solid. He has a record of 4-1, with a goals-against average of 2.40 and a save percentage of .928. These statistics are impressive, although he has played in games where there is little to no playoff pressure. The Penguins' chances for the playoffs are slim, raising questions about the importance of Jarry's wins during this time. Despite his strong recent performance, Jarry has a challenging contract that makes him difficult to trade. He is signed through the 2027-28 season at a salary cap hit of $5.375 million. While he has played well since his recall, the memory of his earlier struggles still lingers. With interest in him low, the Penguins would likely need to retain some salary if they decided to trade him. The Penguins also have another goalie, Alex Nedeljkovic, who is under contract for one more season. The team has young goalie prospects, including Joel Blomqvist and Sergei Murashov, currently in the AHL. Murashov, just 20 years old, is seen as part of the team's future but has spent significant time in lower leagues this season. Next year, the Penguins will need to decide between keeping Jarry or Nedeljkovic. Jarry's recent play has complicated this decision, as he needs to demonstrate that he can consistently perform at a high level. A key area for improvement is stopping the first shot on goal, which he struggled with before being demoted. So far, he has avoided this issue since returning to the team.