Tristan Jarry, the Pittsburgh Penguins’ veteran goaltender, was placed on waivers Wednesday in a surprising move by the organization.
Penguins president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas confirmed that 23-year-old Joel Blomqvist will be called up from the AHL. If Jarry clears waivers, he’ll be sent to the minor league club.
The decision comes as a significant shift for the 29-year-old Jarry, who’s in just the second year of a five-year, $5.375-million annual contract. Dubas had made signing Jarry one of his first priorities after taking the helm in Pittsburgh.
This season has been particularly challenging for Jarry. In 21 games, he’s posted an .886 save percentage – well below his career average. Advanced statistics paint an even darker picture, with Jarry allowing nearly nine more goals than expected, ranking him among the NHL’s bottom performers according to Evolving-Hockey.
“He’s continued to come in here, put the work in and that’s not been a question at all,” Dubas said. “That just hasn’t materialized the way we would like it to on the ice. At this level, you get to the point where you have to do what’s right … for him and for us.”
The move marks a dramatic turn for a goaltender who’s been largely dependable throughout his NHL career. Jarry maintains a .910 career save percentage and earned Vezina Trophy votes in both 2020 and 2022, finishing seventh in voting both years.
Blomqvist has shown promise in limited action this season, recording a .903 save percentage in eight NHL appearances while posting a solid .912 mark in 12 AHL games.
The Penguins’ goaltending struggles extend beyond Jarry. Alex Nedeljkovic, who took over the starting role last season, has also stumbled with an identical .886 save percentage through 19 games this season.
