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Stuart Skinner and Tristan Jarry trades evaluated two weeks later: Who's winning
Photo credit: Edit from The New York Times
It's been two weeks since the Tristan Jarry for Stuart Skinner trade, and there appears to be one team leading the race in terms of who came out ahead with the deal.
The Edmonton Oilers finally decided to pull the trigger on an adjustment in net, trading for Tristan Jarry from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Stuart Skinner, Brett Kulak, and a 2029 second-round pick.
This was an interesting trade, and one that did not take long to spark reactions around the league.
The timing of the trade also made it more surprising. Soon after the trade, the Vancouver Canucks dominated the headlines with a massive trade of their own involving Quinn Hughes.
Despite this, the trade of the Oilers also deserves equal consideration, given the high price the team paid for the goalie who has been playing inconsistently and also has health issues.
Jarry is now 30, three years older than Skinner, and that in itself puts a ceiling on how long he can be considered a solution in the net.
What Tristan Jarry's body of work reveals about his ceiling
His body of work is that of a generally average starter in the league, marked by an elite season and a save percentage of .909.
When juxtaposed against that of Skinner, the exchange certainly looks to be of a lateral variety, according to NHL analyst Phil Johnson. His injury concerns certainly aren't helping, particularly to have had to start missing time so soon in Edmonton.
Why Stuart Skinner's play before the trade is promising for the Penguins
While he certainly has struggled, Skinner had been rounding into form as the team defense stiffened, and he even came with playoff prowess from two hard runs to the Finals.
On the bright side, Jarry is an established cost certainty for the next two years at an average cap hit of $5.375 million, and the Oilers do not have to worry about signing Skinner or Kulak down the line.
"As this was a trade for two problem children, Jarry, like Skinner, gets his chance at a fresh start with a superior team. Never underestimate the impact of a fresh start trade on a guy. Some players can't take advantage of it, but many do."
- Phil Johnson
- Phil Johnson
Jarry has ties to the Edmonton Oil Kings from the junior ranks; this is almost an Oil Kings reunion for the goalie. It is a clean slate trade for both teams, and at this point, Johnson feels both teams have come out on top.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 27 | 220 ANSWERS Stuart Skinner and Tristan Jarry trades evaluated two weeks later: Who's winning Who has been winning this trade so far? | ||
| Pittsburgh | 92 | 41.8 % |
| Edmonton | 128 | 58.2 % |
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