On Saturday, the Pittsburgh Penguins announced that they have loaned 29-year-old goaltender Tristan Jarry to their American Hockey League affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
The netminder’s loan to the AHL comes with conditions, meaning he can only last 14 days with the AHL Penguins. However, his $5,375,000 cap hit and roster spot will still count against the Penguins’ cap for the season. 
For Jarry, the start of the 2024-25 season has been anything but smooth sailing. The Surrey, BC native currently holds a 5.47 goals-against average (ranked 67th throughout the league) combined with an 8.36 save percentage, which is not the usual Pittsburgh goaltender who has manned the crease for the past handful of years who has an 82-game average showcasing a .911 save percentage and 2.72 goals-against average. 
The cherry on top for Jarry could be his allowing three goals on five shots in the opening period against the Buffalo Sabres on October 16th. This resulted in the Penguins to push for a 6-5 overtime win after Joel Blomqvist relieved Jarry. 
Last season, the veteran netminder’s record was 19-25-5 in 51 appearances, with a 2.91 goals-against average and a .903 save percentage. By sending Jarry down to work on his game in the AHL, the organization hopes he will return with more reassuring consistency.
“The first couple of starts that he’s had haven’t been his best,” coach Mike Sullivan said Thursday.
“I’m probably stating the obvious when I say that. But it’s our responsibility to help players through some of the struggles they inevitably go through in this league, and Tristan is no different.”
On the same day the Penguins announced Jarry’s assignment, he made his first appearance as an AHL Penguins since the 2018-19 season. His performance against the Syracuse Crunch, which resulted in a 3-2 win, saw Jarry record a .941 save percentage. 
Since being drafted by the Penguins as their 44th overall selection in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, Jarry has spent nine seasons in the Penguins organization, making 260 appearances, with a 2.72 goals against average and .911 save percentage, and a record of 137-86-25.
The Penguins hope to clinch a playoff spot after missing the postseason for the previous two years. They currently have a record of 3-6-1 and are sixth in the Metropolitan Division. 

Sharks locker room frustrated with disappointing start

If you’ve been following the start of the 2024-25 season, you would know that the San Jose Sharks are looking scarilysimilar to how they started last season.
The Sharks have played nine games so far in the opening month of the 2024-25 campaign, all of which have resulted in losses despite two last-chance overtime opportunities. Their most recent kicker came during a 7-3 loss to the Las Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday.
However, although they may not be winning, the Sharks are still making history. They are officially the first team to have gone back-to-back seasons with nine straight losses. 
However, last season the Sharks continued on their streak in games 10 and 11 with a 10-1 loss against the Vancouver Canucks, followed by a 10-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, but finally snapped the streak against the Philadelphia Flyers with a 2-1 win on October 7th, 2023; hopefully this year they’ll stop the run before it gets too far. 
In a recent article from San Jose Hockey Now’s Sheung Peng, Peng mentions the frustration within the Sharks locker room about the constant comparison and resurrecting of last season’s start, beginning with defenceman Mario Ferraro, who is currently in his sixth season with the club.
When Peng asked Ferraro about the comparison between this season’s poor start from last, Ferraro responded:
“I don’t know. That’s hard to talk about right now. Obviously, it’s been a tough start for us. I don’t want to talk about last year. Last year is in the past, last couple years, whatever. This a new year.”
However, when Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky was less tip-toeing around the point and far more honest, telling Peng, “It’s embarrassing. Truly embarrassing,” in regards making history as the first team to start back-to-back seasons with nine straight losses.
Goaltender Vitek Vanecek is playing his first season with the Sharks after being traded in March after two seasons with the New Jersey Devils. Last year, the 28-year-old netminder, who played 32 games with the Devils, had a record of 29-27-9 and a .890 save percentage and 3.18 goals against average. In five appearances with the Sharks this season, he has a .869 save percentage and a 4.00 goals-against average.
“We have to forget about the things and then just play hockey,” Vanecek told Peng. “And then not be scared to play and then just do the right things.”
Despite the frustration in the locker room, the Sharks have 73 games left to turn things around. They’ll also have their next chance at breaking their losing streak against the Utah Hockey Club on Monday.
“Tomorrow is a new day,” Ferraro told Peng. “We’re going to get back at it. We’re going to find ways to improve, and we’re going to get our first win in Utah.”

Daily Faceoff Roundtable: Who will be the first coach to be fired this season?

We may not have crossed the threshold of being one full month into the 2024-25 campaign just yet, but plenty of teams are not meeting the expectations set ahead of this season’s start. 
Last season, Edmonton Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft was relieved of his duties (replaced by current head coach Kris Knoblauch) on November 12th, making him the first coach to be fired during the 2023-24 campaign after starting the season 3-9-1. This proved useful, giving the Oilers a much-needed change that resulted in them making it all the way to game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals before ultimately falling short to the Florida Panthers. 
In Daily Faceoff’s latest round table discussion, contributor Matt Larkin opened the floor by asking the writers who they think will be the first NHL coach fired in 2024-25.
The Pittsburgh Penguins – Mike Sullivan 
The Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan has been with the team since the 2015-16 season and helped the organization win two back-to-back Stanley Cups (2015-16 and 2016-17). However, the Penguins have a strange history of making coaching changes, resulting in a cup win. This may not be the case this year, but the proof is in the pudding that a coaching change may re-ignite something within the Penguins. As Larkin points out, in 2008-09, the organization fired Michel Therrien and hired Dan Bylsma, which saw them go on to beat the Detroit Red Wings in seven games to win the Stanley Cup, and again in 2015-16 when they fired Mike Johnston to hire Sullivan which saw him lead the Penguins to a Stanley Cup win beating the San Jose Sharks in six games. 
“Mike Sullivanwill forever be royalty in Steeltown, having led the Pens to consecutive Stanley Cups in 2015-16 and 2016-17,” said Larkin. “But this group hasn’t won a playoff series since 2017-18 and hasn’t made the playoffs since 2021-22.”
The Detroit Red Wings – Derek Lalonde
Last season, the Red Wings came ridiculously close to clinching a playoff spot but ultimately fell short, causing tension between the organization and head coach Derek Lalonde. 
As contributor Scott Maxwell points out, the Red Wings have started seeming inconsistent this season, with a record of 4-4-0. Despite having some well-rounded talent this season, Maxwell believes that when the team begins to struggle, it may be Lalonde who takes the fall.
“He’s made some questionable choices over the course of his tenure,” said Maxwell. “Particularly with how he’s thrown Moritz Seider to the wolves with his usage and potentially hampered the development of their top defenseman.”
The Nashville Predators – Andrew Brunette
The Nashville Predators spent some money this offseason signing five to six impactful performers to long-term deals that cost a healthy chunk of change. However, if things begin to get shaky in Nashville, and with the high expectations of becoming a Stanley Cup Contender, there won’t be much room for significant roster moves. In that case, Andrew Brunette’s position could be at risk. 
“If the Preds can’t right the ship as we approach the holidays, you have to wonder if [Barry] Trotz will have any other option than to consider a coaching change,” contributor Anthony Di Marco said. 
The Philadelphia Flyers – John Tortorella 
Phildaphelia Flyers John Tortorella is a colourful character who has done a tremendous job rebuilding the Flyers’ roster. However, as contributor Paul Pidutti mentions, Tortorella exceeded expectations up until the end of the season, when the Flyers battled an eight-game losing streak that ultimately ended their playoff hopes. 
“With his taskmaster approach and mercurial persona, the next controversy never feels too far away with Tortorella,” said Pidutti. “With a 1-5-1 start — and being outscored by 14 goals — Philadelphia will need to find their footing sooner than later to keep the veteran coach behind the bench.”
The Boston Bruins – Jim Montgomery 
The Boston Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery has made waves in Beantown, especially when he led the team to a single-season record with 65 wins, the most points with 135, and set a franchise record with 34 home games, winning himself the Jack Adams award. However, that was two years ago. Since then, the Bruins don’t have the same depth they used to, and as contributor Steven Ellis points out, Montgomery has found himself creating tension with captain Brad Marchand.
“The Bruins are looking to keep relevant at the top of the standings, and perhaps a new voice behind the bench could help,” said Ellis. “He’s less likely than just about anyone else on this list, but you never know.”

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