Burke says never went looking for another goalie

Pens Director of Hockey Ops talked to Fan Morning Show about Jarry/Fleury
Tristan Jarry iso
Photo credit Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Pens President of Hockey Operations Brian Burke told 93.7 The Fan he knew there would be a lot of offseason chatter about the team wanting a new goalie. It’s part of it, Burke said especially with Tristan Jarry struggling in the playoffs last year.

Burke told The Fan Morning Show they NEVER had a determined effort to replace the 26-year-old.

Podcast Episode
The Fan Morning Show
Penguins President of Hockey Ops Brian Burke
Listen Now
Now Playing
Now Playing

“We have a little different view on it,” Burke told 93.7 The Fan.  “This guy is big.  He’s extremely gifted.  He’s talented and athletic.”

“He’s been a star virtually every level he’s played at.  He was the star in the American League, before that he was a star in the Western Hockey League.  We believe in this kid.”

In his first opportunity Tuesday, Jarry affirmed Burke and Sullivan’s faith in him stopping 26 of 28 shots.  As for his previous stops, Jarry won 93 of 159 games with a .913 save percentage in the WHL.  The save percentage at .914 in the AHL with 77 wins in 141 games.

So the Pens didn’t even look for a veteran back-up?

“Not very much,” Burke told the Fan Morning Show.  “To make full disclosure and be perfectly honest.  People throw stuff at you all the time.  To say we didn’t look at another goaltender.  That would be false.”

“I think Jars knows it’s was never a priority for us and it’s never something we went looking for.”

Pens management talked to both Jarry and back-up Casey DeSmith informing them there would be talk. Emphasizing to them there is ‘no determined effort to replace anybody here’.

Can he shed any light to interest in Marc-Andre Fleury?  Was there a chance he could have returned?

“His name came up from time-to-time, but frankly, no it’s not in our cap universe,” Burke said.  “It’s not something we spent a lot of time on.  If I said yes, it’s tampering.  So, no.”

Featured Image Photo Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports