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Tristan Jarry ready for fresh start as Edmonton Oilers season starter: ‘It’s a confidence thing’

Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

By Michael Menzies

Sep 17, 2026, 11:00 EDTUpdated: Sep 17, 2026, 01:46 EDT

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When the Edmonton Oilers acquired Tristan Jarry from the Pittsburgh Penguins, he sported a 9-3-1 record, a 2.66 goals-against average, and a .909 save percentage.

His best save percentage since the 2022–23 season and a clear bounce-back from being on waivers and being sent down to the AHL in 2024–25.

Solid starting goalie numbers.

But that performance didn’t last when he came to Edmonton. Jarry got hurt in Boston on Dec. 18, just his third game with the Oilers, and he was never right afterwards.

“Honestly, after I got injured, it was tough,” said Jarry during a press conference on Wednesday. The Oilers are about to begin training camp, and Jarry returning to form is one of the most important storylines of the upcoming season.

“I think just coming in healthy,” he said. “Obviously, it wasn’t the ending that I wanted to my season…It was tough. I just didn’t really feel like myself. So, coming off a full summer to be able to help that, strengthen that, I think it’ll be a lot better for me.”

Jarry’s 19-game stretch with the Oilers saw him post a 3.86 goals-against average and an .858 save percentage — simply not good enough. He was surpassed by Connor Ingram and started just one of the six playoff games.

But much has changed since they left the ice defeated by Anaheim. Now it’s a three-goalie tandem with Frederik Andersen in the picture, but unavailable to begin the season. Behind Jarry is an NHL neophyte in Devon Levi, who provides a lot of long-term promise but limited experience at the highest level.

That leaves Jarry as the de facto starter to begin the 2026–27 campaign, another season with high expectations in Edmonton.

‘It’s a confidence thing’

What’s the biggest thing that left Jarry’s game that needs to return?

“I think it’s just a confidence thing,” said Jarry. “You want to be a part of every game, you want to start every game…but you obviously have to earn it, and I think throughout training camp and throughout the preseason games, that’s what has to happen.”

With that said, it can be easy to lay all the Oilers’ faults at the skates of the goalies, but that would let the players in front of them off the hook.

Last season, the Oilers’ defensive responsibility could be described as occasional. Defensive zone breakdowns, odd-man rushes, poor puck management. The hope is that, with coach Mike Babcock and a long off-season to reset, there will be a renewed commitment to the details and habits that help support goaltending.

“We’re looking for a bounce-back year from Tristan, without a doubt,” said general manager Stan Bowman. “When he came back, he never found his game, and our team didn’t really play great either in front of him.

“He had a really good summer of training. He was here with our group training all summer. He’s in excellent condition. He’s setting himself up in the best way possible to bounce back, and we’re confident and hopeful that will happen.”

Jarry acknowledges that a three-goalie system will be a learning curve for everyone involved, but it has already shown its usefulness as injury protection with Andersen requiring more rest for his knee.

Jarry is also coming back with a fresh set of white pads, the first time the 31-year-old will wear what some experts believe is the “optimal” pair of pads against opposition shooters.

It’s all part of a fresh start. If Jarry can regain his form, he would be the goalie of record through the season for the Oilers.

“The goalie’s the last line of defence…to be able to be that person and be that rock for them,” he said. “I think when they know they have that behind them, they could play their game to what it needs to be. And I think as a whole, we’ll be where we want to be at the end of the year.”

Michael Menzies is an Oilersnation columnist and co-host of PreGaming and Oilersnation After Dark. He’s also been the play-by-play voice of the Bonnyville Pontiacs in the AJHL since 2019. With seven years of news experience as the Editor-at-Large of Lakeland Connect in Bonnyville, Menzies collects vinyl, books, and stomach issues. Follow him on X at Menzies_4.

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