Tristan Jarry is under no illusions as to what awaits him this fall when the Pittsburgh Penguins commence their 2025-26 preseason training camp: competition.
Following a turbulent individual campaign this past season that was full of inconsistent play and struggles, Jarry (as well as fellow NHL veteran Alex Nedeljkovic) has left the door open to be challenged by the organization’s young up-and-coming goalie prospects.
Meeting with reporters for the Penguins’ end-of-season interviews April 18, Jarry acknowledged the landscape he’ll face in September and October, when youngsters Joel Blomqvist and Sergei Murashov will be looking to make a case for themselves.
“I can’t let someone steal my job or take my job away,” Jarry said. “I have to play to my experiences and what I know and be the person who I am. I think doing that is what I need to do. And I think at the end of the day, it’s about wins and losses for this team.”
President of hockey operation/general manager Kyle Dubas was blunt during his own exit interview with the media about goaltender competition this upcoming camp.
It comes as a result of lackluster performances by both Jarry (16-12-6, 3.12 goals-against average) and Nedeljkovic (14-15-5, 3.12 GAA) over the course of 2024-25.
While the Penguins were far from an effective or even particularly competent defensive club, Jarry and Nedeljkovic didn’t exactly shower themselves in glory between the pipes, either.
On top of factoring in largely to the Penguins’ 3.50 goals allowed per game (third-worst in the NHL), an opponent scored a goal on their first shot of the night 15 separate times, with Jarry in net for eight.
Since that statistic has been tabulated, only the 2000-01 Colorado Avalanche (16) are known to have conceded more first-shot goals than the Penguins last season.
As Jarry and Nedeljkovic entered the offseason, Dubas let them know what to expect when they report back to Pittsburgh for training camp.
“There’s two young guys that are going to be pushing,” Dubas said. “That was the message we gave to Tristan and (Nedeljkovic), as well, so this isn’t going to come as any surprise. Those guys are going to be given every opportunity to win jobs, as well.”
In fairness, Jarry seemed to handle his worst statistical NHL campaign (.893 save percentage) with grace.
Following a brutal start to the season, having posted a 5.47 GAA and .836 save percentage over his first three starts, Jarry was sent to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League on a multi-week conditioning stint in late October.
He returned to the Penguins Nov. 9 and from there through mid-January, his play stabilized at times, but not consistently, leading to Jarry being placed on waivers Jan. 15.
Jarry (and his $5.375 million contract that runs through 2027-28) ultimately cleared and he returned to the AHL, remaining until early March.
Unsurprisingly, Jarry admitted that the process was a trying time.
“Just going on waivers, it was something upsetting for me,” he said. “It wasn’t something that I ever expected when I signed my contract. And it was something that obviously happened and then I had to build from it. I had to grow and I had to be a better goalie.”
Tristan Jarry was asked to summarize his season. @SNPittsburgh pic.twitter.com/K5ND9ZEO31
— Dan Potash (@DanPotashTV) April 18, 2025
Dubas, the bearer of bad news for Jarry regarding demotions and waivers throughout the season, commended his handling of difficult circumstances.
Additionally, Dubas did credit Jarry for improved play to close out the season, as he went 8-3-3 in his final 14 appearances, recording two shutouts and a save percentage of .900 or better in nine contests.
But now, with competition around the corner, it’s on Jarry to carry over his end to the season into the summer and beyond.
“I was especially proud of how Tristan handled the end of the year,” Dubas said. “It’s not easy to go through what he went through. I was the one delivering those messages to him. For him to come in at the end, I thought he played well.
“Now he needs to stack it, because it’s going to be a different pressure (at the) beginning of the year again. Can he take what he’s done here and then continue to stack it going into next year?”
Dubas may well try to explore trade options with Jarry this summer, but in his season-ending media availability, he said he expects both Jarry and Nedeljkovic, who’s signed through 2005-26 at $2.5 million annually, to begin camp with the Penguins.
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Nearly a decade ago, it was a young Jarry ascending the Penguins’ system and nipping at the heels of established veterans Marc-Andre Fleury and Matt Murray.
In a few months, Jarry, who turns 30 April 29, will be on the opposite end of that situation with Blomqvist and Murashov.
But through all of the struggles and adversity, Jarry was adamant that Pittsburgh is where he wants to continue to play.
“I think that the last two-and-a-half months almost for me was kind of a good thing for me, just to show (the Penguins) that I want to be here and play for this team,” Jarry said. “I want to do everything to help this team win. And there’s no better feeling than being able to put this Pittsburgh Penguins sweater on.
“I think every day you get to do it is exciting. I can’t explain the excitement you get when you put that jersey on to go on the ice here at PPG Paints. It’s different than anywhere else.”