What’s the latest on the Penguins goaltending? Could the Utah Hockey Club have any significant moves planned for this season? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE ATHLETIC: On Monday, Josh Yohe reported there was open competition for playing time among the Pittsburgh Penguins’ goaltenders.
Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry (NHL Images).
He noted Tristan Jarry was the Penguins starter in a 6-0 season-opening loss to the New York Rangers. Rookie Joel Blomqvist played the next two games.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Yohe’s column appeared before Jarry returned to the crease on Monday for a 6-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens.
Yohe pointed out that Jarry was given a five-year contract in 2023, which usually comes with extra opportunities for a player to assert himself even if he struggles. However, that hasn’t been the case for Jarry, who lost his job for the final 13 games of last season to Alex Nedeljkovic, who is currently injured but will soon return to the lineup.
According to Yohe, the Penguins’ starting goalie job moving forward is anyone’s guess. Jarry might benefit from a fresh start elsewhere but Yohe doesn’t believe any club would want his contract. A team source told him the Penguins were willing to move the 30-year-old netminder during the summer but other teams weren’t interested.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Yohe blasted Jarry’s “unprofessional” performance against the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday after the netminder gave up three goals on five shots before being replaced by Blomqvist.
Jarry is signed through 2026-27 with an AAV of $5.375 million and a 12-team no-trade list. The Penguins probably won’t find any takers unless they absorb half of his cap hit or take back a toxic contract.
A buyout next June would result in a $1.747 million cap hit for 2025-26, rising to $5.047 million in 2026-27, falling to $4.547 million in 2027-18, before dropping to just over $797K annually for the remaining three seasons.
RG.ORG: Jim Biringer reports Utah Hockey Club general manager Bill Armstrong intends to remain aggressive in his efforts to build up his club following a busy offseason. During the summer, Armstrong acquired defensemen Mikhail Sergachev from the Tampa Bay Lightning and John Marino from the New Jersey Devils.
Armstrong hopes to build up his club’s defense like the teams that won the Stanley Cup, most recently the Florida Panthers. He’s seeking players between the ages of 24 and 28, pointing out that Sergachev and Sean Durzi are both 26. Armstrong acquired Durzi from the Los Angeles Kings in June 2023 for a second-round draft pick in 2024.
The Utah GM said he might have to make tough decisions about moving out players and making draft picks. “We’ll have to make some trades down the stretch, but that’s why we acquired all the draft picks and prospects.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Armstrong has a roster filled with young talent and a well-stocked prospect pipeline. He also has two third-round picks in the 2025 draft, three second-rounders, and two third-rounders in 2026, and two fourth-rounds and two fifth-rounders in 2027 to draw on as trade chips.
He could become a seller at this year’s deadline as he’s done in recent years, shipping out veterans on expiring contracts for draft picks and prospects. However, he could become a buyer if his young team is in playoff contention by the March 7 trade deadline.