It's time for Joel Blomqvist to show what he's got

The Pittsburgh Penguins have not had stability in net for quite some time. Tristan Jarry has experienced ups and downs unlike many others, which put far too much pressure on the likes of Casey DeSmith and Alex Nedeljkovic to save the day in recent years,

While the team was still in contention, having a veteran backup/second option was necessary, given Jarry's inconsistencies and injury troubles. But we all know things have changed in Pittsburgh. The organization's focus is now on stockpiling young talent and developing it. For that reason, trading Nedeljkovic to allow 23-year-old Joel Blomqvist a clear shot at earning the spot alongside Jarry next season made perfect sense.

Nobody expects the Penguins to make the playoffs next year. In fact, the vast majority believe they'll be in the Gavin McKenna sweepstakes, which I'm sure wouldn't upset Kyle Dubas and the front office.

With development and growth at the forefront, there's no better time to see whether Blomqvist's dominance at the AHL level can translate over to the NHL. With Sergei Murashov right behind him and soon to be knocking on the door, Blomqvist must show he's got what it takes, because plenty of opportunity awaits him if he does.

We saw glimpses of Blomqvist's ability in 2024-25

While it hasn't all been smooth sailing, Joel Blomqvist had several games last season where he put his talents on full display, much to the excitement of Penguins fans.

The early season 4-0 loss in Edmonton to the Oilers could have been far worse had Blomqvist not stopped 46 of 50 shots, peppered all night by some of the world's best.

There were also multiple comeback wins in relief of both Jarry and Nedeljkovic, where he gave the Penguins a chance to claw their way back into games against Buffalo and Philadelphia.

Yes, there were other instances where things didn't go so well, but given the defensive woes in front of him, you can't put the blame on Joel Blomqvist. Unfortunately, those issues might not be any better in 2025-26, but the organization knows that; it's about allowing him to gain the valuable experience of learning what it takes to be a pro.