In a significant shift in roster dynamics, the Edmonton Oilers have completed a high-profile trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins, acquiring goaltender Tristan Jarry and forward Sam Poulin. The deal sees starting goaltender Stuart Skinner, defenseman Brett Kulak, and a 2029 second-round pick moving to Pittsburgh.
This season, Jarry has demonstrated a notable comeback, boasting a 9-3-1 record along with a .909 save percentage and a 2.66 goals-against average. The 30-year-old netminder’s resurgence follows a challenging period last January when he cleared waivers after struggling with an 8-8-4 record, a .886 save percentage, and a GAA of 3.31. Jarry’s season took a turn after a stint in the AHL, where he managed to rejoin the Penguins and finish the season with a 16-12-6 record, a .893 save percentage, and a 3.12 GAA. Currently, Jarry is in the third year of a five-year, $26.88 million contract, carrying a cap hit of $5.38 million.
The Oilers’ goaltending issues have been widely reported, with Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard managing a combined save percentage of just .879 in 31 games. The back-to-back Stanley Cup finalists are positioned at 14-11-6 this season and currently occupy the top wild-card spot in the Western Conference. Skinner, who has been instrumental in helping the Oilers reach the Stanley Cup Final in the past two seasons, holds an 11-8-4 record this year with a .891 save percentage and a 2.83 goals-against average. As a pending unrestricted free agent, Skinner has a cap hit of $2.6 million on his expiring contract.
Brett Kulak, also a part of the trade, has recorded two assists in 31 games this season and is a pending free agent, carrying a cap hit of $2.75 million. Since being acquired from the Montreal Canadiens at the 2022 trade deadline, Kulak has become a vital asset on the Oilers’ defense, contributing significantly during their runs to the Stanley Cup Final over the past two years.
In additional moves, the Oilers have secured defenseman Spencer Stastney from the Nashville Predators in exchange for a 2027 third-round pick. Stastney, 25, has netted one goal and recorded nine points in 30 games this season, averaging 14:52 of ice time. He is expected to help cover the ice time previously managed by Kulak, who averaged 17:42 per game this season. The Oilers placed blueliner Jake Walman on long-term injured reserve on the same day, further solidifying the need for defensive depth.
A fifth-round pick (131st overall) by the Predators in 2018, Stastney made his NHL debut on April 1, 2023, and is in the second year of a two-year, $1.65 million contract with an average annual value of $825,000. Over his career, he has accumulated three goals and 18 points in 81 NHL games with Nashville.
Further updates on the evolving roster and the implications of these trades are expected as the Oilers look to enhance their performance in the current season.
