Tristan Jarry Breaks Silence to Criticism After Rough Start to the Penguins' Season
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Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry discussed his poor performance and struggles to start the season.
Due solely to the performance of presumed number one goalie Tristan Jarry, the Pittsburgh Penguins are already embroiled in a significant controversy six games into the 2024-25 National Hockey League regular season.
Jarry's start to the season has been dreadful; in just three games and 132 minutes of play, he has a dismal 5.47 goals against average and an equally dismal .836 save percentage. There's no denying that Jarry hasn't been good enough, even though the Penguins' blue line and their generally subpar defensive play should share some of the blame.
Earlier today, the Pittsburgh Penguins announced that they have recalled goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic from his conditioning loan with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
He was the third goalie in practice, following Joel Blomqvist and the struggling Tristan Jarry. The Penguins are travelling to Western Canada for four games, beginning in Winnipeg on Sunday, and Nedeljkovic is anticipated to travel with them.
When questioned by the media on Saturday about his difficulties this season, Jarry said he was trying to focus only on the game and letting go of the "mental struggles" in his head.
"Just, honestly, letting go," said Jarry of what he was working on. "We did a lot of mental aspects of the game to start the season, a lot of video, a lot of teaching. So I think now is just at the point of letting go and being myself, trying to be the best goalie moving forward."
When asked about his goalie's performance, Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan appeared to concur that Jarry might be his own worst enemy right now.
"To a certain extent, sometimes, when players struggle at any of the positions, in a lot of my experiences, sometimes you can be your own biggest obstacle," admitted Sullivan. "You have to find a way to get out of your own way, allow your instincts to take over."
"We've tried to put together a plan to try to help Tristan and capture Tristan's very best game, and we know what that looks like," Sullivan said. "And then, at the same side of the coin - as far as decisions on guys that go into the net - performance, at the end of the day, is going to be the ultimate dictator, as it is in all the positions. We know we've got quality guys there."
The Penguins may be in serious trouble because Jarry is only in the second year of a five-year contract with a $5.375 million cap hit per season and an average annual value.
Sullivan may appear to be saying that he still thinks Jarry can make it better, but many people don't think that will be the case. It may also be a sign that the Penguins themselves no longer believe Jarry can turn things around because they intend to bring three goaltenders on their next road trip.
| POLL | ||
19 OCTOBRE | 129 ANSWERS Tristan Jarry Breaks Silence to Criticism After Rough Start to the Penguins' Season Should Tristan Jarry be given a chance or is it time for him to go? | ||
| Give him a chance | 46 | 35.7 % |
| Time to go | 83 | 64.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
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