Hark. Is That Opportunity I Hear Knocking on the Penguins’ Door?
KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK…
There’s an old adage about opportunity knocking on your door. Another about striking while the iron’s hot.
Is opportunity knocking on the Penguins’ door vis-à-vis goalie Tristan Jarry?
Out in Pittsburgh west (Vancouver), where former black-and-gold GM Jim Rutherford resides, the Canucks are in a bit of a pickle. Starting goalie Thatcher Demko has a rare lower-body ailment which has been deemed inoperable. While the injury doesn’t appear to be career-threatening, the 28-year-old netminder missed a good chunk of last spring’s playoffs and the start of training camp as well.
The path for his return to action? Shrouded in uncertainty.
Meanwhile, back in the ‘Burgh, his counterpart Jarry is for all intents and purposes a lame duck, having lost his starter’s job to Alex Nedeljkovic during the stretch run last spring. At nearly $5.4 million per, a pricey lame duck at that.
Nobody is questioning Jarry’s ability. Even during a perceived down season, the two-time all-star tied for the league lead with six shutouts. It’s his intangibles that cast a shadow…including the ability to perform at crunch time and a perceived lack of fire in the belly.