Just when I was pretty much convinced a deal wouldn’t happen…
…Kyle Dubas finally pulled the trigger on a hotly rumored swap. Tristan Jarry and former first-round pick Sam Poulin are heading to the Oilers in exchange for goalie Stuart Skinner, defenseman Brett Kulak and a second-round pick in the 2029 Entry Draft.
My initial reaction? A win-win, all the way around.
Jarry’s done yeoman’s work to resurrect a career that for all intents and purposes appeared to be in the dumpster when he was waived and demoted to the Baby Pens last season. Last night’s so-so outing against the Canadiens aside, I thought he played exceptionally well this season, especially since coming off IR in late November.
However, he has a well-documented history of fading in the second half.
As for Skinner, he’s been equally erratic over the course of his six-season NHL career. The rangy (6’4” 215) 27-year-old currently has an .891 save percentage and 2.83 goals against average, to go with a quality starts percentage of .435. By comparison, Jarry’s numbers are .909, 2.66 and .615, respectively.
Ironically, both have All-Star game appearances on their resumes.
The beauty for the Pens lies on the contract end. We shed the final two-plus seasons of Jarry’s $5.375 annual cap hit. Skinner, by comparison, is in the last season of a deal that pays him a manageable $2.6 million.
The deal also opens the door for netminding prospects Joel Blomqvist and Sergei Murashov, the latter widely regarded as a star in the making. When they’re ready to be promoted, there’ll be no one blocking their path.
As for the other players involved? Kulak is a serviceable, 31-year-old left-side defenseman. Stands 6’2” and tips the scales at 192 pounds. He’s not overtly physical, but he will involve himself around the net. Likewise, although not known for his offense, he tallied career highs of seven goals and 25 points last season. Decent enough output.
With a cap hit of $2.75 million, Kulak is also a pending UFA.
Of the four players exchanging uniforms, I might be the happiest for Poulin. His slower, heavier game never seemed to mesh with the Pens’ speed-oriented style, especially under Mike Sullivan. Here’s hoping Sam gets a real opportunity with the Oilers, instead of yo-yoing between the bigs and the AHL.
As for the second-round pick? Gravy on top of the turkey.
So what does this mean for the immediate future and our playoff aspirations? With his 9-3-1 record, Jarry was one of the rocks our strong start was built upon. A tandem of Skinner and Arturs Silovs, who’s regressed over the past month, doesn’t necessarily inspire a boatload of confidence.
Still, trading Jarry was the correct move. Kudos to Dubas for possessing the brass, not to mention the good sense, to deal while the iron was hot.
Dumba on Waivers
To make room for Kulak, the Pens placed veteran defenseman Matt Dumba on waivers.
True confession, I had vague hopes the hard-hitting 31-year-old veteran might rediscover the 10-goal, 40-point form of his early career. Especially following a strong training camp.
Unfortunately, he never seemed to mesh with any of his partners while racking up a minus-five in limited duty.
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Hey Other Rick,
I almost tacked this on as a comment after the fact, but as you alluded the deal really was a master stroke by Dubas. IMHO, along the lines of the Erik Karlsson swap.
To deal Jarry without retaining salary while not taking on any onerous long-term contracts in return? Terrific work. And who knows? Skinner and Kulak might work out in the short-term.
Rick
Rick,
You already know my reaction; we've talked.
First, starting with the main piece, Jarry, I do not wish him ill, but boy am I glad he is gone.
* I am not all that impressed by Jarry's resurrected career. At the quarter-point of the season, the average shooter, shooting on either Penguin's Goalie was a full percentage point below the league average in that department. If Dubas didn't trade Jarry right now, he may never have been able to trade him, eventually he would have had to face better shooters.
* I would have settled for a bag of used pucks to get rid of him. He has never really learned his angle. Even in last nights game, the first two GA were due his lack of playing the angles - except on the first GA he didn't line up o the shooters body but over committed to the short side allowing a shooter coming down his natural wing to beat him far side.
Second, Like you I am happy for Poulin and hope that kid gets a chance to make it in the NHL. All the years under Sullivan's heavy thumb weighed this kids career down, like so many others.
Third, Dubas did get a good deal. I responded to your other post that I wouldn't take bad contracts back, and Dubas didn't. Skinner certainly is not setting the world on fire with his performances and neither is Kulak, but getting a second round pick in 2029 is roughly what taking those two back in exchange for Jarry. Since they are in their final years, it is effectively using Cap Space to get assets. Four years from now, the Oilers are tracking to be roughly where our Pens were a couple of years back, so that pick should be in the upper half of the draft.
Fourth, this team and this city keep hailing a bunch of kids that really aren't doing anything. Removing the Jarry stumbling block should be (but I doubt the team will do it) the key to a serious resurgence. The two most electrifying prospects in this organization are its Goalies, Blomqvist and Murashov. If Dubas is really the genius some would try and make us believe he will bring those two guys up and bury Silovs and Skinner in WBS and save the $2.5 million in Cap that would free up (minus the ELCs of the two kids). And I do not want to hear the hypocritical whine that they are too young and could have there development hurt, Kindle and Brunicke are far younger, greener, and far, far less impactful than these two Goalies are. It is time that this organization stops talking out of both sides of its mouth and apply the same standard to all players.
Fifth, Dumba. None of the Penguins defensemen have really distinguished themselves. I feel bad that he drew the short straw, but somebody had to go.