Oilers 2025-26 Report Cards: Tristan Jarry

As the offseason rolls on, so do the Edmonton Oilers’ player grades. The last report card graded Colton Dach, and now we turn our attention to goaltender Tristan Jarry.

The Oilers acquired Jarry and Samuel Poulin from the Pittsburgh Penguins for Brett Kulak, Stuart Skinner, and a 2029 second-round pick. This was an awful deal for Edmonton, and they got fleeced. They traded multiple positive assets for a lateral move, or even a downgrade. Jarry has two more years on his deal with a $5.375 million cap hit. Meanwhile, Skinner is a pending unrestricted free agent (UFA), and he was making just $2.6 million. The Oilers made a panic deal instead of properly upgrading their goaltending in the offseason when they had more cap space.

The Oilers got more expensive in net with a player who has more term left on his deal. Plus, Jarry wasn’t an upgrade. This was a horrendous trade from the get-go, and it proved costly. The Jarry experiment hasn’t worked out thus far. Let’s evaluate his time with the Oilers.

2025-26 Performance

Before the trade, Jarry had a 2.66 goals-against average (GAA) and a .909 save percentage (SV%) in 14 games with the Penguins. Unfortunately, his play fell off a cliff. With the Oilers, he had an abysmal 3.86 GAA and an .858 SV% in 19 games. He eventually lost the starter’s job to Connor Ingram and only started six of Edmonton’s final 20 games.

Jarry’s first three starts with the Oilers were actually promising. He allowed three goals on 28 shots in his first game, four goals on 30 shots in his second game, and one goal on 13 shots in his third game, before he suffered an injury, sidelining him for one month. He was never the same upon his return, and he struggled mightily.

He recorded a 31-save shutout against the Vancouver Canucks on Jan. 17, but consistency eluded him. He had a SV% over .900 in just six of his 19 appearances as an Oiler, with only four of them starts. He also allowed five or more goals six times, including six goals twice, and seven goals once. The 31-year-old had a SV% below .860 in eight games. He was borderline unplayable at points, and he was nowhere near good enough.

Ingram struggled in the playoffs, so Jarry stepped in and started Game 4 against the Anaheim Ducks. He was great in that game, especially in regulation. Edmonton had an early 2-0 lead, and Jarry made some massive saves in the first period to maintain the lead, stopping all 13 shots he faced. Then, he held them in the third period when the Ducks were pushing. The Oilers eventually lost in overtime on a bad deflection that trickled past the netminder. Jarry has proven he can be a solid goaltender, but he needs to show it consistently next season.

Does Jarry’s Work Ethic Need Improvement?

Jarry’s work ethic and compete level have been questioned on numerous occasions. Bob Stauffer, who’s well-connected within the Oilers’ organization, alluded to the fact that some teammates don’t appreciate the effort he displays in practice, and that carries over into games. Former NHL goaltender and current New York Rangers analyst Stephen Valiquette also questioned his work ethic on Sportsnet 590 on April 28. You know the saying, practice how you play. Well, Jarry needs to come to the rink every day ready to work if he hopes to bounce back next season. If the effort is there, the results should follow.

Overall Grade

The Oilers thought they solved their goaltending woes, but they haven’t. They are in the same place they were with Skinner at the helm, just older and more expensive. Jarry has had a solid career, but he was placed on waivers in the 2024-25 season and then traded this season. He has been trending downward, which is the worst time to acquire a netminder.

He deserves a D grade for his lacklustre play. He doesn’t deserve an F since there were some positive moments. He recorded a shutout and made a few massive saves throughout the season. He also played well during his only playoff start. Unfortunately, the bad severely outweighed the good, and at the end of the day, Jarry didn’t deliver.

Do you agree with this grade? Keep following The Hockey Writers as we continue the Oilers’ player report cards throughout the offseason.