Pittsburgh Penguins Hit Crossroads with Franchise-Altering Decision on the Horizon

The Pittsburgh Penguins expected big things from Joel Blomqvist when they took him in the second round of the 2020 draft. He was always seen from day one as a core piece of their long-term goalie plan, and maybe he still is.

At just 23 years old, Blomqvist has the ability to succeed in the NHL. But keeping him on the NHL roster through the remainder of the 2024-25 season brings minimal reward. The Penguins' defense is often in and out of position, vulnerable to massive errors.

Those failures put monstrous pressure on whoever is in goal, as was the case in their 6-5 overtime loss against Toronto when the defense allowed two breakaways with a minute remaining in the second period.

Alex Nedeljkovic, Blomqvist's goaltending partner, has the experience and mental toughness to handle such a challenge, though even he lost his cool when replaced in a 5-4 overtime win over Philadelphia.

Blomqvist, however, is in the initial stages of his pro career, with only 15 NHL games played. His current numbers, 4-9-1 record, 3.81 goals-against average, and .885 save percentage, indicate that he is far from ready to shoulder the load.

A stint with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton would be beneficial for Blomqvist and the organization. The Baby Penguins are a strong squad this season and could have a long Calder Cup playoff run, giving him some quality experience.

This would also open the door for Tristan Jarry to return to the NHL roster. If Jarry struggles, it would make the Penguins' draft lottery hopes even better.

If he recovers, he might draw interest from other teams seeking goaltending help in the offseason. In either situation, there's no real downside to making the switch.