Mark Madden's Hot Take: Expect Tristan Jarry to get extension, hefty raise from Penguins

The Penguins retained their key free agents this past offseason, most notably Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang.

But GM Ron Hextall faces another challenge this coming summer when goaltender Tristan Jarry gets to free agency.

Jarry, 27, is in the last season of a three-year contract with a cap hit of $3.5 million. Jarry is playing well: His .922 save percentage ranks third in the NHL. His goals-against average of 2.63 stands tied for 10th. Jarry’s record is 14-3-3. He’s on a 10-0-1 run.

More than stats, Jarry passes the eye test. His positioning and pad work have been sublime. When Jarry is at the top of his crease, he’s golden.

But Jarry has never won a playoff series. He’s played more than one game in a playoff series just once. That was 2021 against the New York Islanders, and his boneheaded turnover in double overtime of Game 5 cost the Penguins that first-round series.

Should the Penguins extend Jarry? He’s going to want upwards of $6 million per on a six-year pact. That would put him among the NHL’s 10 highest-paid goalies.

The Penguins probably don’t have a choice.

There’s no ready successor in the Penguins system. There really aren’t 32 qualified starting goalies in the NHL. That position currently lacks. Who would replace Jarry?

So, the Penguins will likely keep Jarry.

But they’re shaping up like the Steelers: Going to great expense to keep intact a team that hasn’t made playoff impact in a long time.