It’s been just over a month since Stuart Skinner’s time in Edmonton came to an end, with the goaltender heading to Pittsburgh in a mid-December trade that brought Tristan Jarry to the Oilers. And while the move marked a significant shift for both franchises, it may have been exactly what Skinner needed.
In a recent interview, Skinner opened up about his transition to the Penguins-and he didn’t shy away from contrasting his new surroundings with what he experienced in Edmonton. The goaltender described Pittsburgh as a more tight-knit, supportive environment, one that’s already made him feel at home.
“Yeah, it feels great,” Skinner said. “Definitely a big difference in terms of, kind of, the feelings.
I think here, it’s honestly just a great feeling. I feel like everyone’s really rooting for you and is really ‘all together.’
It feels like Pittsburgh is one big family, and we’re a very united city.”
That sense of unity might be just what Skinner needed to reset. His numbers with the Penguins so far are nearly identical to what he posted with the Oilers-a 4-4-0 record and a .901 save percentage-but the recent trend is encouraging. Over his last four starts, he’s turned in a .942 save percentage, suggesting he’s beginning to settle in and find his rhythm.
Of course, Oilers fans know this version of Skinner too. The hot streaks, the flashes of brilliance-they’ve seen it before.
The question has always been consistency, and whether he could maintain that level under the intense spotlight of a Canadian hockey market. That pressure seemed to wear on him at times in Edmonton, where expectations are sky-high and patience is often in short supply.
Skinner didn’t directly criticize his former team, but his comments hint at the mental toll of playing in a market like Edmonton, where every save-and every goal allowed-is magnified.
“I think there are similarities, and there are a lot of differences as well,” he said when comparing his new team to his old one. “Obviously, we want to win the Stanley Cup just as badly as anybody else, so I think that feeling will always be there.
But just the whole feeling around this room, it’s been nothing but positive here. It’s been really, honestly - again - just family-oriented.
It’s just been really enjoyable, and I already kind of forget what it was like in Edmonton.”
That last line-“I already kind of forget what it was like in Edmonton”-might not sit well with Oilers fans, especially considering Skinner helped backstop the team to two Stanley Cup Final appearances. But it also speaks to how quickly he’s embraced his new chapter.
Still, Skinner made a point to acknowledge the privilege of sharing the ice with two of the game’s greatest talents-Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
“It is really cool, thinking about it, that I got to play with, I mean, the best players that have ever played the game,” he said. “Obviously, being able to play with ‘Leo’ and ‘Davo’ for quite some time - really getting to know them and what they’re doing - they’re very determined, very hard-working people that are just extremely disciplined.”
Now, he’s sharing a locker room with another pair of legends: Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. And while the names have changed, Skinner sees familiar traits-elite work ethic, laser focus, and a drive to win.
For Skinner, the move to Pittsburgh might not just be a change of scenery-it could be a better fit for the kind of player and person he is. And if his recent form is any indication, the Penguins may have found a goaltender ready to thrive in a new environment, with a fresh start and a family-like atmosphere behind him.