Announcement: Penguins part ways with $26.875 million goaltender

Since late June, there has been a lot of speculation about a possible trade involving $26.6875 million goalie and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Writer Mark Madden of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review stated on June 21 that “it’s time” for the Penguins to let go of their $26.6875 million goalie.

“The Pittsburgh Penguins’ decision to resign goalie Alex Nedeljkovic is completely illogical. Until they deal with starting pitcher Tristan Jarry, Madden contended at the time. pointing out that Joel Blomqvist, a highly regarded goaltender prospect, will not be able to advance due to the two-year contract.

Rob Rossi of The Athletic later verified the veracity of this rumor, stating on June 27 that “multiple teams have been informed that Jarry, who received a long-term contract last July, is available in a trade.”

On June 25, NHL analyst Elliotte Friedman suggested on Sportsnet’s “32 Thoughts” podcast that a Jarry deal may make sense.

In spite of this, Bleacher Report analyst Kyle Richardson implied on July 11 that this trade speculation is a pipe dream.

Richardson said, “The main reason for the trade rumors is Jarry’s inconsistent play from last season.” “It would be challenging to trade him given his contract and performance.”

This led Richardson to conclude that Jarry and Nedeljkovic will start the season as the goalie tandem in Pittsburgh with Blomqvist continuing his development at the AHL level — even if the Penguins would prefer to rid themselves of the 29-year-old netminder this summer.

Penguins’ Indecisiveness Has Led to Goaltender Logjam

The other intriguing fact from Rossi’s piece in The Athletic explained how the Penguins ended up in their current situation. Pittsburgh also seems to have been incredibly indecisive throughout.

The reporter stated, “The Penguins felt that signing Jarry in the offseason was their best option, but they were uneasy about it.” Thus, they gambled on a popular, homegrown goalie who had occasionally demonstrated top-10 caliber play. However, club sources claimed that there was annoyance with Jarry’s inconsistent play, his responses to teammates following goals, and his apparent lack of resistance when Nedeljkovic stole the starting position from him in the closing moments.

Later, Rossi also relayed that there is a “lack of consensus internally” on Blomqvist’s NHL readiness, let’s say Jarry is traded and Nedeljkovic got hurt.

“Team sources said Blomqvist remains highly regarded, but there is some hesitation in turning over a veteran-heavy roster led by Sidney Crosby to Blomqvist in case of an injury to Nedeljkovic,” he reported.

This uncertainty played into the Penguins’ decision to re-sign Nedeljkovic.

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Penguins’ Sidney Crosby Extension Rumor Believed to Be Legitimate

In Richardson’s fact-finding piece with Bleacher Report, he concluded that the rumors of a Crosby extension are true.

On July 9, Rossi broke the news, saying that the parties were “closing in on a new contract.”

“Considering Crosby’s significance to the Penguins, Rossi wouldn’t be reporting this unless a deal was close at hand,” Richardson shot back. “It appears Crosby will end his NHL career as a Penguin, despite worries from Pittsburgh supporters and analysts over the present state of the organization after missing the playoffs for the last two years.”