Edmonton Oilers Need a Rebound Season From Tristan Jarry – The Hockey Writers –

When Edmonton Oilers general manager (GM) Stan Bowman traded Stuart Skinner and Brett Kulak to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Tristan Jarry and Sam Poulin last December, I thought it was a deal that would help both goalies kickstart their careers. Instead, it went from a dream to a nightmare as Jarry got injured just three games into his time in Edmonton and never fully recovered the form he showed when he first arrived in the Alberta capital. Ten months later, Jarry is on the hot seat, and the Oilers have to hope he recaptures his game for his sake and the sake of the team.

Jarry Showed a Lot of Promise as an Edmonton Oil King

I’ve always believed that if you’ve won a major championship in any sport early in your career, you’re able to perform well later into your career. When Jarry led the Edmonton Oil Kings to the Memorial Cup Championship in 2014, I had a feeling he’d catapult that success to bigger things in the NHL. Despite the fact that Jarry performed well at times for the Penguins in the regular season from 2017-18 to 2025-26, he was never able to rise to the promise he showed in juniors.

That’s why the trade to the Oilers last season made sense: Jarry was going back to a city and a rink where he had experienced a lot of success. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out as he was displaced by Connor Ingram as the number-one goalie.

A Fresh Start in 2026-27

Jarry doesn’t seem to have many chances left to prove he can take a team to the Stanley Cup. This offseason, the Oilers made sure they had more insurance in net when they acquired goaltender Devon Levi from the Buffalo Sabres and signed free agent Frederik Andersen on July 1. The plan is to go with three goalies and most likely evaluate where the team is by the 2027 Trade Deadline on March 1. With the announcement that Andersen will miss training camp due to an offseason injury, there’s more pressure than ever on Jarry to come up big for the Oilers early in the season.

What Happens if Jarry Plays Well?

If Jarry can somehow recapture the magic he had when he was with the Oil Kings, it’ll be a win/win situation. It’s hard to say how Oilers management really feels about Jarry, but if he plays well and regains his confidence, he could really make a difference for a team desperate for a true number-one goalie. A lot is riding on Jarry’s performance, especially early in the season, including Bowman’s position within the organization. If he plays well, it’ll help soften the blow of what might have been Bowman’s worst trade as Oilers GM.

What Happens if Jarry Underperforms?

Oilers fans may not want to think about it, but Jarry underperforming could be a reality. It’s going to be interesting to see how he plays under new head coach Mike Babcock. There’s also the fact that the Oilers will want to turn to Andersen when he comes back from injury. If Levi plays well and takes over the net early in the season and Jarry somehow falters, Bowman will have to be careful in how he handles the situation.

This seems like it could be Jarry’s last chance; if he blows it, who’s going to want to trade for a goalie who looks like his career could be over? The Oilers are still carrying former goalie Jack Campbell’s contract until 2029-30. The last thing they’d need is to have history repeat itself with Jarry, who is under contract for two more seasons.

Oilers Hoping for the Best With Jarry

Oilers management and fans will be hoping Jarry finds his form. It’ll not only help the team in the standings, but it’ll give Bowman more options should they want to trade him on or before March 1. The best-case scenario is that Jarry comes out strong, plays well all season, and continues to do so into the playoffs. That would make a great comeback story.