Erik Karlsson discusses the Pittsburgh Penguins top power play unit, and how that group is looking to find an identity early in the preseason. Last season did not go how the Pittsburgh Penguins expected. The same could be said about their starting goaltender Tristan Jarry. After a red-hot start (14-3-3) in his first 20 games, things started to fall apart for the seven-year NHL veteran, literally. The Penguins' netminder had been quietly dealing with a nagging hip injury since training camp last season. As time wore on in the season, it became apparent that something was hampering the 27-year-old as his game grew inconsistent. Eventually, it all fell apart, and Jarry left after the first period of The Winter Classic in Boston due to injury. He would miss seven of the next eight weeks of the season. Upon his return, Jarry's inconsistencies remained. He finished the season with a 24-13-7 record and saw his numbers dip from years past (.909 SV% and 2.90 GAA). Jarry enters this season healthy and holding a new five-year contract [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/news/pittsburgh-penguins-sign-tristan-jarry-five-year-contract] that he signed on the opening day of NHL free agency on July 1st. With the drama of an injury-riddled season and a contract negotiation behind him, Jarry can focus on returning to being the goaltender who finished in the top ten of all major goaltending categories during the 2021-22 season. The Penguins changed a lot of what will be in front of Jarry over the summer. Bringing in a new defensively-focused bottom-six, along with two dynamic, puck-moving defensemen in Ryan Graves and Erik Karlsson, should reduce the pressure for Jarry. That's not to mention the new faces that will be supporting Jarry. For the first time since taking over the starting role in 2020, Casey DeSmith will not be Jarry's backup. That responsibility will go to newcomer Alex Nedeljkovic, a 27-year-old netminder looking to recapture the magic of his rookie season in Carolina. Nedeljkovic has looked good this preseason, stopping 47 of 51 shots in his two outings. If he too can revert back to his former self, the Penguins will be able to rest Jarry more often than in past seasons. If the Penguins can mesh quickly up front and Jarry can find the consistency he showed early in his career, it is not unrealistic to expect him to (once again) be a top-ten goaltender in the NHL this season. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhcgQXeAEfc[/embed] Make sure you bookmark Inside the Penguins [http://insidethepenguins.com/]for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more. Penguins Release Third Jersey Schedule [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/news/pittsburgh-penguins-release-third-jersey-schedule] Penguins Have Entered Next Phase of Camp [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/pens-talk/pittsburgh-penguins-entered-next-phase-camp] Rickard Rakell Comfortable Anywhere in Penguins Lineup [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/pens-talk/rickard-rakell-comfortable-anywhere-pittsburgh-penguins-lineup] Penguins vs. Sabres: Core Group Returns [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/pens-talk/pittsburgh-penguins-vs-buffalo-sabres-core-group-returns] Penguins Top Prospect Assigned To Junior Team [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/news/pittsburgh-penguins-prospect-brayden-yager-assigned-junior] * undefined * undefined Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwNTkwMDEyNjI0OTM4MzYw/img_6014.jpg]
