Stuart Skinner: The Oilers’ Best Hope in a Slim Goalie Market

As the NHL offseason approaches, the search for a starting goaltender intensifies for Stan Bowman, but the free agent market has offered little hope. This year’s crop of unrestricted free agents was once projected to be stellar, with superstars like Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, and Kirill Kaprizov all eligible. However, with all three signing extensions, the market has dwindled to one of the weakest classes in recent memory, particularly in net.

The most notable name potentially available is Sergei Bobrovsky, a two-time Vezina Trophy winner and Stanley Cup champion. Yet at 37 years old, his future remains uncertain. The Florida Panthers may opt to re-sign him, and if he does hit the market, he won’t provide a long-term solution for any team. Cam Talbot, who turns 39 on July 5, and Frederik Andersen, who has faced injury issues in Carolina, further illustrate the age and reliability concerns that plague this year’s goalie market.

For a team like the Oilers, who will need their goaltender to shoulder a significant workload come October, the options appear grim. However, one name stands out among the rest: Stuart Skinner. The 27-year-old pending UFA, who has two Stanley Cup Final appearances under his belt and a career save percentage of .902, could be a compelling choice. Skinner’s cap hit is also manageable, making him an appealing option for the Oilers.

After being traded from Edmonton to Pittsburgh in December, Skinner posted an .891 save percentage with the Oilers and .885 with the Penguins—numbers that highlight his consistency despite playing on two different rosters. Pittsburgh is unlikely to bring him back, as they have younger prospects like Arturs Silovs and Sergei Murashov waiting in the wings. Skinner is expected to command a contract in the vicinity of $3.8 million.

The irony of Skinner’s situation is almost poetic. Bowman traded him to acquire Tristan Jarry, a move that has not paid off, as Jarry struggled with an .858 save percentage in 19 games with the Oilers and only made one playoff start. Now, with Jarry still owed $5.375 million for the next two seasons, Skinner finds himself a free agent while Edmonton grapples with the fallout of that trade.

Could Bowman consider re-signing the goalie he traded away just six months ago? While it may seem unlikely, stranger things have happened in the NHL. The optics of such a move would be complicated, but in a market as thin as this one, securing a modestly priced, available goaltender like Skinner might be the best option on the table.

Skinner has previously expressed no regrets about his time in Edmonton, but whether he would be open to a return remains a question. And whether Bowman has the courage to make the approach is another matter entirely.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.