The Pittsburgh Penguins are on the verge of a goaltending crisis. Tristan Jarry and Joel Blomqvist are already competing for playing time. With back-up Alex Nedeljkovic injured week-to-week, the situation in net could quickly turn into a heated battle.
Tristan Jarry: The Unreliable Starter
Tristan Jarry enters the season as the starting goaltender for the Penguins. He is currently on the second year of a five-year contract with an average annual value of $5,375,000. Jarry is expected to carry the starter’s load. However, his track record especially later in seasons, and in the playoffs has raised concerns. Jarry certainly has moments of brilliance, even being a former NHL All-Star. However, inconsistency has become a hallmark of his play. This inconsistency reared its head in the season opener. Jarry allowed three goals in the first period to effectively derail the team in game one of the season.
Alex Nedeljkovic: Picking Up Where He Left Off?
Once a highly touted prospect of the Carolina Hurricanes, Alex Nedeljkovic revitalized his game in Pittsburgh. Brought in to play back-up to Tristan Jarry for the 2023-24 season, Nedeljkovic was given an expanded role in the latter half of the season. With Jarry both dealing with injuries and inconsistency, Nedeljkovic would go 9-3-3 in March and April to close out the season. Although the Penguins would narrowly miss the playoffs, Nedeljkovic positioned himself as a capable backup with the potential to play starter when needed. Unfortunately, he suffered an injured in training camp and has had to start the season on injured reserve. However, his steady play from last season has already put Jarry on notice for the starting role.
Joel Blomqvist: An Emerging Threat
As if the presence of Alex Nedeljkovic wasn’t enough to muddy the goaltending waters, rookie Joel Blomqvist has begun building a name for himself in the NHL. The Pittsburgh Penguins top goaltending prospect, Blomqvist had an incredible season for Wilkes-Barre last year. He went 25-12-6 with a .921 save percentage and a 2.14 goals-against average. His performance earned him a spot on the AHL All-Rookie team and an All-star selection as well. Blomqvist entered training camp as the Penguins best prospect between the pipes. He would then have a strong debut over his first couple NHL games. Against the Detroit Red Wings, Blomqvist made 29 saves on 32 shots to earn his first win in the NHL.
Blomqvist’s pedigree, AHL performance and subsequent NHL performances have drawn comparisons to former Penguins goaltender Matt Murray. Both goalies were very successful in the AHL and quickly earned opportunities in the NHL. Blomqvist has demonstrated an ability that Murray used to have in being able to weather offensive storms against opposing teams long enough for the Penguins to re-focus and take control. Through his first two NHL games, Blomqvist has gone 1-1 with a .906 save percentage.
A Brewing Crisis?
Tristan Jarry remains the highest-paid and longest-serving goaltender in the organization. However, his inconsistent performances and high price-tag may make him expendable. If Blomqvist continues to develop in the NHL, him and Nedeljkovic could present a cheaper and potentially more reliable tandem as compared to Nedeljkovic and Jarry. The Penguins commitment to Jarry could quickly become a liability, especially if his performance does not improve soon.
While the Penguins goaltending, depth is certainly a luxury, it could become a crisis. The Penguins already face tough decisions as it is. The team will have to decide whether or not sending Blomqvist back to the AHL when Nedeljkovic returns is best for the team and Blomqvist’s own development. He has shown brilliance at the AHL level already. However, his development could stagnate as compared to playing in the NHL. Should him and Nedeljkovic continue to outplay Jarry, the organization will have to look to alternative options with Jarry.
As the season progresses, head coach Mike Sullivan and general manager Kyle Dubas will have to navigate this delicate situation carefully. The organization cannot afford to destroy the trade value Jarry has, as doing so will make offloading him and his contract even more difficult. However, Joel Blomqvist has shown that he can perform in the NHL, and Alex Nedeljkovic will be due back sooner rather than later. Looking to maximize the remaining years that Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang have, moving Jarry out for cap-space, roster space, and potentially assets may be a bet the team needs to make. The next few months of the season will be pivotal to the Penguins. Blomqvist has a small bit of time to add to his resume before Nedeljkovic returns. Proving himself at the NHL level in the limited time he has like he has already been doing may lead to goaltending crisis for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Main Photo: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
