Pens’ Prospect Goaltender Tristan Jarry Standing-Out in WHL

June 22, 2012; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins owner Mario Lemieux (left) and head coach Dan Bylsma on the stage as their first round draft pick is announced during the 2012 NHL Draft at CONSOL Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

For those of you that don’t know who Edmonton Oil Kings’ goaltender Tristan Jarry is – he’s pretty good.

The Pittsburgh Penguins’ second-round selection (44th overall) in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft is having a great season in the Western Hockey League (WHL), and starting to show why the organization traded-up to get him.

Leading the entire WHL in wins with a record of 26-10-1, Jarry is tied for the most shutouts (5), and ranks second-overall in the league with a 2.23 goals-against-average – which is arguably the best in the league, given the top-goaltender, Coleman Vollrath, has played in 17 less games.

Owning a .915 save percentage, Jarry has coasted the Oil Kings to having the second-most wins in the league, and a third-place slot with the second-most points in the Eastern Conference. So far in his WHL career, Jarry has posted a lifetime record of 52-19-2, 2.26 goals-against-average, and a .915 save percentage in 78 contests with Edmonton.

Possibly overlooked in the draft because he was a back-up for the Oil Kings last season, he certainly didn’t play like a second-string goaltender.

Topping the WHL with an outstanding 1.61 goals-against-average – albeit in only 27 games – Jarry’s six shutouts during the 2012-13 campaign are the most put-up by any Oil Kings’ goaltender ever in a single season. His .936 save percentage was also the best in the league, stopping 585-of-625 shots.

It’s debatable, but in looking at his numbers, Jarry has been the WHL’s best goaltender over the past two seasons. Begging me to ask the question, why was this guy not picked earlier?

He wasn’t ranked high, barely talked about, and seemingly bound to be selected somewhere within the third-round. Yet, at just 18-years-old, it’s Jarry who continues to prove his future is bright with each start he makes. And amidst all the goaltender hoopla that’s surrounded Pittsburgh throughout recent years, Pens’ prospect goaltenders Jarry, along with Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds’ Matt Murray of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), are giving the organization tremendous optimism.

Standing at 6-foot-2 and weighing 180-pounds, Jarry isn’t the biggest netminder, but he’s one of the smartest. Displaying responsible puck management, Jarry shows a solid net presence and a winning mentality to succeed at the NHL-level.

According to Hockey’s Future, Pens’ director of amateur scouting, Randy Sexton, believes Jarry has a great future ahead of him:

"“We see a potential starting goalie. He’s got very good size. He moves well. He’s got the technical foundation and the size we think to be a starter.”"

While Jarry has a ways to go before he makes his first NHL start, the Pens’ organization obviously feels confident that he’ll flourish when he ultimately gets the call. And why wouldn’t he, the kid’s dominated the WHL so far.

Jarry’s next contest will be tonight against the Kootenay Ice, where he’ll look to extend the team’s six-game winning streak. The tilt is set to start at 6 p.m., MDT.