Tristan Jarry, the Edmonton Oilers goaltender born April 29, 1995, in Surrey, British Columbia, has moved through the NHL from a Pittsburgh Penguins draft pick to a central figure in cap-strategy conversations. This profile draws on team-published statistics, contract-tracking data, and junior-league records to help fans understand his contract, his on-ice performance, and how he compares with Stuart Skinner.
Last checked: 2026-07-01
Team: Edmonton Oilers · Position: Goaltender · Jersey Number: #35 · Birth Date: April 29, 1995
How we researched this
Last checked: 2026-07-01.
Sources reviewed: official NHL team site (Pittsburgh Penguins), ESPN news reports, PuckPedia contract database, EliteProspects player page, Wikipedia, Yahoo Sports analysis, social media (official team X account).
No on-site visit, no direct interview with the player or team, and no independent statistical analysis beyond published data.
Tristan Jarry at a glance
- Signed a five-year, $26.875 million deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins on July 1, 2023, carrying a $5.375 million annual cap hit through 2027–28. (Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL.com))
- Set a Penguins franchise record of 177 minutes 15 seconds of consecutive shutout time during the 2019–20 season. (Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL.com))
- Posted a 20‑12‑1 record with a 2.43 goals‑against average and .921 save percentage, earning his first NHL All‑Star selection. (ESPN)
- Won the WHL championship with the Edmonton Oil Kings in 2014–15 and later the CHL Memorial Cup. (Wikipedia) (Note: Wikipedia is a tertiary source; the claim is widely reported in junior hockey records.)
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Team | Edmonton Oilers |
| Position | Goaltender |
| Jersey Number | #35 |
| Birth Date | April 29, 1995 |
| Birth Place | Surrey, British Columbia, Canada |
| NHL Draft | 44th overall, 2nd round, 2013 by Pittsburgh Penguins |
| Contract length | 5 years (2023–24 to 2027–28) |
| Annual cap hit | $5.375 million |
| Total contract value | $26.875 million |
| WHL Best GAA (season) | 2.24 |
| WHL Championship | 2014–2015 |
| Career NHL games (to July 2023) | 206 (117‑60‑20, .914 SV%, 2.65 GAA, 13 shutouts) |
Is Tristan Jarry a better goalie than Stuart Skinner?
Both goaltenders have shared the Edmonton Oilers crease since the December 2025 trade that sent Jarry from Pittsburgh to Edmonton in exchange for Skinner, defenseman Brett Kulak, and a 2029 second-round pick. The direct comparison is unavoidable for fans and fantasy managers.
Career stats comparison
Through his first 206 NHL games (as of July 2023), Jarry posted a .914 save percentage and 2.65 goals-against average, a performance the Penguins ranked as tied for the best in franchise history among netminders with at least 50 games played. (Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL.com)) Stuart Skinner, who broke into the NHL later, had a .905 SV% and 2.92 GAA over his first 100 starts (approximate; not a direct pair). The gap in career save percentage favors Jarry, but Skinner’s numbers have fluctuated with Edmonton’s defensive systems.
Contract value
Jarry’s five-year deal carries a $5.375 million cap hit; Skinner was on an entry-level contract at the time of the trade, making him a cap-friendly asset. Yahoo Sports analysts noted that Jarry’s $5.38 million cap hit in 2026–27 and 2027–28 complicates Edmonton’s cap planning alongside Connor Ingram’s separate deal. (Yahoo Sports) The trade-off is clear: Jarry brings a higher ceiling and a track record of elite play, while Skinner offers financial flexibility.
Experience
Jarry has appeared in an NHL All‑Star Game (2020) and owns a franchise shutout streak. Skinner has yet to earn an All‑Star nod. In junior hockey, Jarry was a WHL champion and Memorial Cup winner with the Edmonton Oil Kings. (Wikipedia) The bottom line: Jarry holds the edge in résumé and peak performance, but his recent decline (.903 SV% in 2023–24, .893 in 2024–25 per PuckPedia) makes the comparison situational.
The trade-off: If the question is “who is more proven at their best,” Jarry wins. If it’s “who provides more cap flexibility for a contender,” Skinner may be the smarter fit.
Why does Tristan Jarry have Tom and Jerry on his helmet?
During his tenure with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Jarry wore a custom-painted goalie helmet featuring the cartoon cat-and-mouse duo Tom and Jerry. The design, visible in game photos and social media posts, became a fan favorite for its playful contrast to the usual team-logo masks. (Instagram (player account, unofficial)) Jarry did not publicly explain a specific personal reason, but the choice aligns with his lighthearted public persona and his willingness to deviate from convention. The helmet remains one of the most recognizable masks in the league.
The implication: The Tom and Jerry helmet is a stylistic signature, not a sponsorship or tribute – a rare moment of personality in a traditionally stoic position.
Tristan Jarry contract
Jarry’s current contract is a five-year deal signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins on July 1, 2023. It covers the 2023–24 through 2027–28 seasons, with an average annual value of $5.375 million and a total value of $26.875 million. (Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL.com))
Contract length
Five years. The contract runs through the end of the 2027–28 season, after which Jarry becomes an unrestricted free agent.
Annual cap hit
$5.375 million per season. Cap-tracking sites confirm this figure. (PuckPedia)
Total value
$26.875 million. This includes signing bonuses and base salary; a buyout analysis by PuckPedia shows a potential annual buyout cost of roughly $458,333 if the Oilers were to explore that route. (PuckPedia (buyout analysis)) The contract was signed on the heels of Jarry’s 2019–20 All‑Star season and a franchise shutout record, but later performance declines led to mixed fan reactions in Pittsburgh.
The bottom line: For a goaltender who delivered elite numbers during his prime Penguins stretch, the $5.375M cap hit is market‑rate. The risk is consistency and injury history.
Tristan Jarry stats
Junior career stats
Jarry played four seasons with the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL. His best season came in 2012–13 when he led all WHL goaltenders with a .936 save percentage and 1.61 goals‑against average over 27 games. (Wikipedia) That performance elevated his draft stock and led to his selection 44th overall in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins.
WHL achievements
Jarry won the WHL championship in the 2014–15 season with the Edmonton Oil Kings. That same year, the team also claimed the CHL Memorial Cup. (Wikipedia)
NHL stats overview
Through his first 206 NHL regular-season games (spanning 2016–17 to 2022–23, as of July 2023), Jarry compiled a 117‑60‑20 record, a .914 save percentage, a 2.65 goals-against average, and 13 shutouts. (Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL.com))
Jarry vs. Skinner: Quick comparison
| Attribute | Tristan Jarry | Stuart Skinner |
|---|---|---|
| Current Team | Edmonton Oilers | Edmonton Oilers (traded to Pittsburgh in Dec 2025) |
| Position | Goaltender | Goaltender |
| Contract | 5 years, $5.375M AAV (through 2027–28) | Entry-level at time of trade |
Our pick: Jarry is the more established goalie based on his contract value and junior achievements, but Skinner offers greater cap flexibility for a contending team.
“The Pittsburgh Penguins have agreed to terms with goaltender Tristan Jarry on a five-year contract, it was announced today by President of Hockey Operations Kyle Dubas.”
– Pittsburgh Penguins, NHL team press release
“The Penguins awarded the first-time All-Star a three-year contract Saturday. The deal, which carries an average annual value of $3.5 million, likely means Pittsburgh is ready to move on from two-time Stanley Cup-winning netminder Matt Murray.”
– Associated Press via ESPN, News report
The article provides a direct Tristan Jarry comparison with Stuart Skinner to understand how their careers diverged in Pittsburgh and Edmonton.
Frequently asked questions about Tristan Jarry
What team does Tristan Jarry play for?
What is Tristan Jarry’s jersey number?
What is Tristan Jarry’s contract length?
What is Tristan Jarry’s annual cap hit?
Has Tristan Jarry won the Stanley Cup?
What major junior hockey championship did Tristan Jarry win?
Tristan Jarry – biographical and career data
| Full name | Tristan Raymond Jarry |
| Date of birth | April 29, 1995 |
| Place of birth | Surrey, British Columbia, Canada |
| Position | Goaltender |
| Catches | Left |
| Height / weight | 6’2″ (188 cm) / 194 lbs (88 kg) |
| Team | Edmonton Oilers |
| Jersey number | #35 |
| NHL Draft | 44th overall, 2nd round, 2013 (Pittsburgh Penguins) |