Tristan Jarry on Oilers’ three-goalie system: ‘That’s going to be a little bit of adjustment’
The Edmonton Oilers are going to be doing some things differently this season.
New head coach Mike Babcock will shape the team to his image as they try to win a Stanley Cup for the first time since 1990.
Perhaps most unusually, however, the Oilers are expected to carry three goaltenders, with offseason additions Frederik Andersen and Devon Levi joining Tristan Jarry on their everyday roster.
Carrying three goaltenders is not without precedent, as the Carolina Hurricanes kept Brandon Bussi, Pyotr Kochetkov, and, coincidentally enough, Andersen, on their roster for a portion of last season.
Of course, Carolina went on the win the Stanley Cup, so Edmonton might be hoping a three-goalie rotation is the key to achieving ultimate success.
During a media availability on Wednesday, Jarry discussed being part of a goaltending trio, rather than a typical starter-backup situation.
“It’s going to be something that’s going to be a little bit of adjustment,” Jarry said. “Obviously it works. Carolina did it last year. They had a lot of success with it, and it’ll be a great challenge for the three of us to be at our best every night.”
Jarry also touched on how he believes the rotation between Andersen, Levi, and himself should go during the season.
“You want the best goalie in the net every night, and whether it’s Freddy, Devon, or I, we want the best in net because every night we want to have a chance to win,” he said. “Whichever goalie is doing that I think should have the net.”
Jarry and Andersen are the veterans of the trio, while Levi is the youngster, relatively speaking. The Oilers acquired Levi, along with a seventh-round pick, in exhange for a third round pick this offseason after he failed to reach expectations with the Buffalo Sabres.
Jarry talked about what he’s seen from the 24-year-old goaltender so far.
“He’s a great goalie. He’s a great kid. He’s open to learning,” Jarry said. “I think when you’re able to do that, you practice hard. He’s going to be a great goalie in this league for a long time.”
