Highlights
- Org Buzz on Tristan Jarry’s Future
- Expect More 41-87-17
- Crosby to be heavily involved in roster construction/recruiting this summer?
- NHL Exec: Pickering’s name is “out there”
- Dewar earning RFA Tender?
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Penguins are ‘Lean’ Keep Tristan Jarry 
[hide] Momentum is building where the Pittsburgh Penguins are operating in the ‘lean keep’ mode on Tristan Jarry for next season. Jarry in posting his 2nd straight shutout on home-ice Tuesday night has growing support from the coaching staff to even the upper-level management. “To be able to rebound the way he has this second half certainly speaks volumes to how far he’s come in his mental toughness,” assistant coach David Quinn said after Tuesday’s win. And this is where the Penguins have been increasingly encouraged. They feel Jarry is turning the page on some of the issues between the ears. [/hide] The Penguins for now are planning to award Jarry an opportunity to win the #1 job out of training camp and likely see things go into camp with Jarry being in pole position. One potential trade scenario the Penguins explored leading into the deadline was [hide] a Jarry trade to the Philadelphia Flyers as former head coach John Tortorella pushed for the Flyers front office to take a flier on Jarry. That is now off the table. [/hide]
| Goaltending Depth Chart | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Tristan Jarry | 2. Alex Nedeljkovic | 3. Joel Blomqvist |
Jarry’s future with the team is becoming less of a question mark then [hide] Joel Blomqvist. There are a few teams that like Blomqvist as a high ceiling 1B type netminder and some execs have felt Blomqvist could be moved in some deals Pittsburgh has been kicking around. The team is not expected to just hand Blomqvist a roster spot next season if he’s still on the roster as Sergei Murashov is not far away from the NHL. Pittsburgh wants to have a veteran around Murashov eventually which further diminishes Blomqvist being part of the future. [/hide]
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Koivunen impresses again: [hide] Third straight game Ville Koivunen was among the most noticeable players on the ice in what has been a great sign. Early in the second period Mike Sullivan went to the Koivunen-Crosby-Rust line and they showed tremendous chemistry in reading and reacting to each other. Think we’ll see that line the rest of the way as Koivunen being elevated happened before Rutger McGroarty exited with a foot injury. [/hide]
— Hayes Trade B+ Grade: Kevin Hayes 2 Goal Night, gives him 12 Goals on the season + taking on his contract saw Pittsburgh acquire a second, third round pick for him. Hayes is a really good guy in the room, there are arguments to keep him around next season as a 12th-13th forward type. Because Hayes can give you a pulse of offense, Noel Acciari should be much higher priority in trying to clear a roster spot.
— Dewar Popular with Management: [hide] Pittsburgh wants to add at least one impactful Top-6 player and leave two roster spots in the bottom-6 open during camp for opportunities of younger players, namely Tristan Broz chief among them: However, there is certainly support for Connor Dewar to be tendered this summer and be part of the mix. Management loves the jam he has brought to the team post deadline. [/hide]
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— One thing management thinks they can sell free agents they may target on longer term deals is the emerging prospect system their building and draft capital to sell a positive view of the franchise moving forward.
— Pittsburgh plans to involve [hide] Sidney Crosby heavily in the off-season planning process and how popular Crosby is with young players in that 23-28 age range where he’s viewed as a legend, will see Crosby be a focal piece in the recruiting process of trying to reshape the roster this summer, sources say. Crosby’s opinion is going to matter, sources say. [/hide]
As Pittsburgh plans to make priority #1 in revamping the left side of the defense, interesting development is 2022 1st round pick [hide] Owen Pickering continues to be tabbed by rival NHL execs as a player whose name is out there by the Penguins in Brayden Yager type young player for young player swings, the Penguins have tried to set things in motion on. [/hide]
