Penguins might be stuck keeping both Murray and Jarry in Pittsburgh

Huge change in their plans!

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 3 years ago
Penguins might be stuck keeping both Murray and Jarry in Pittsburgh
Zuma Press

A few weeks ago, Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford pretty much confirmed that one of his goalies, Matt Murray or Tristan Jarry, will be moved in this offseason. The GM is aware that keeping both of his top two netminders beyond this offseason is a luxury his team likely can’t afford and a move is in the cards. Both goalies are 25 years old and are set to be restricted free agents in a week or so. With more than $74 million already committed to the Penguins’ 2020-21 roster, it will be quite a financial puzzle if Rutherford wants to keep both his netminders and fit them under an uncertain cap. 

While Rutherford is seriously looking at moving Murray, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman is starting to doubt that he will be able to pull off a move. In his latest 31 Thoughts column, Friedman points out that the high volume of goalies available in the UFA market could affect the trade market, making it difficult for a club like Pittsburgh to trade a netminder.

“The sheer volume of free-agent goalies is affecting the trade market at the position. Teams are wondering if it is worth giving up an asset when they can simply sign someone. Pittsburgh has run into that issue as it tries to clear its crease.”

This might mess up all of Rutherford’s plans for the offseason, he who has already been busing moving Patric Hornqvist to the Florida Panthers last week. He was also the first to pull the trigger on a deal after his team was eliminated from the playoff tournament, acquiring Kasperi Kapanen from the Toronto Maple Leafs. 

Sure, teams that fail to address their goalie needs via free agency could return to the trade market, but there won’t be as much as Rutherford might have first hoped for… what if he needs to find the cash for both Murray and Jarry? 

That would be a huge change in the game for Rutherford and the Pens. 

Source: Sportsnet