The Penguins Need To Be In on Every Available Goalie
The Pittsburgh Penguins need to explore every options in the search for a starting goalie.
One of the biggest, if not the biggest, priority for the Pittsburgh Penguins this offseason is to figure out their goaltending situation.
Tristan Jarry played the final year of his contract and while there were some high points, his inconsistencies played a big role in the Penguins missing the postseason.
New president of hockey operations, Kyle Dubas, will have his hands full in building an improved roster in Pittsburgh, but there are going to be plenty of options between the pipes.
In the last few days, multiple high-level goalies have been rumored to be hitting the trade block.
Dubas said he will look at every possible option when it comes to the goalie position; that includes free agency, trades, or staying in-house.
With the amount of options that are emerging, the Penguins should test the waters and be involved with each of them.
Connor Hellebuyck
Probably the top goalie name on the market this offseason is Connor Hellebuyck, and for good reason.
For the past eight seasons, Hellebuyck has routinely been one of the best, hardest working, and most played goalies in the NHL.
Since breaking into the NHL in 2015-16, Hellebuyck has played 445 games and holds a record of 238-154-37 with .916 save percentage (SV%) and 2.66 goals against average (GAA).
Hellebuyck has routinely appeared in the Vezina Trophy conversation, landing as a runner-up in 2018 and winning the award in 2020.
The Winnipeg Jets have every right to ask for a lot in return for a possible future Hall of Famer, but Hellebuyck would be worth every dime.
Hellebuyck wants to play on a winning team and while the Penguins don’t look like winners at the moment, this type of goalie would be a huge help.
John Gibson
The buzz around John Gibson and the Penguins increases every offseason, but it helps that he’s a Pittsburgh native.
Everyone always clamors for the local kid to come home and play for his hometown team.
While Gibson’s skill has deteriorated a bit after 10 years with the Anaheim Ducks, there might still be something to give.
Much like Hellebuyck, Gibson needs a better team in front of him and the Penguins can offer that.
Through his 10-year career, Gibson has notched a 180-179-59 record with a .912 SV% and 2.83 GAA.
Some of the Gibson hype regarding the Penguins gets blown out of proportion thanks to his Pittsburgh connection, but he’s at least a viable, albeit pricey, option.
Gibson isn’t going to be looked at as a top priority for the Penguins, but he certainly should be in the conversation.
Juuse Saros
A shocking addition to the rumor mill involves the Nashville Predators taking calls about elite goalie Juuse Saros.
Over the last couple of seasons, Saros has emerged as a top five goalie in the NHL after becoming the full-time starter in Nashville.
In the last two seasons, Saros has notched 71 wins while holding down a .918 SV% and doing his best to carry the Predators as far as possible.
While snubbed from the Vezina conversation this past season, Saros is a name that will regularly appear in the running, no matter what team he’s with.
If Dubas wants to make a huge splash early in his tenure with the Penguins, he should take a hard run at Saros.
Other Trade Options
Carter Hart, Karel Vejmelka, Thatcher Demko
Free Agent Options
Frederik Andersen, Adin Hill, Antti Raanta
The options across the NHL for free agent goalies are slim, but these three have emerged as the best possible options for the Penguins.
Tristan Jarry
The search for a starting goalie should include Jarry; he’s the in-house option and has comparable numbers to some of the best netminders in the NHL.
Jarry’s biggest downfall, however, has been his health and lack of postseason success.
Dubas noted that he will evaluate Jarry and see where he stands in terms of goalie options.
Despite the inconsistencies, Jarry finished the year with a respectable 24-13-7 record in 47 appearances; the issue is the timing of most of those losses and the deeper numbers that follow.
A .909 SV% and 2.90 GAA aren’t going to cut it, and it just might be time for the Penguins to find a new face.
Dubas and the Penguins need to hit a homerun in the goalie search; they can’t settle for someone who falls even a little short of outstanding.
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