Stuart Skinner’s Pittsburgh Rebound: A Fresh Start That’s Paying Off for Everyone
After back-to-back heartbreaks in the Stanley Cup Final, it was clear something had to give in Edmonton. The Oilers had the talent, the firepower, the drive-but the goaltending situation?
That was more complicated. Stuart Skinner, once viewed as the long-term answer in net, had become a symbol of the team’s postseason frustrations.
So when the Oilers shipped Skinner and defenseman Brett Kulak to Pittsburgh in exchange for Tristan Jarry, the move felt like a necessary reset for both sides.
Fast forward just over a month, and it’s looking like a win-win.
Skinner, now wearing black and gold, has taken the reins as Pittsburgh’s No. 1 goaltender. The Penguins are tied for second in the Metropolitan Division, and Skinner’s steady presence in net has been a big reason why. He’s posted a 6-4-0 record with a 2.34 goals-against average and a .902 save percentage-a solid stretch that’s helped stabilize a team with playoff ambitions of its own.
Meanwhile, Edmonton has found a rhythm in the crease that’s eluded them for years. Jarry has been sharp since arriving, and offseason pickup Connor Ingram has quietly become one of the best under-the-radar additions of the year. For a team that’s often had to outscore its problems, the Oilers suddenly have something they haven’t had in a while: reliable goaltending.
But Thursday night brings a moment that’s bound to stir up some emotions. The Penguins head to Rogers Place for their only visit to Edmonton this season, and while Skinner won’t be starting, all eyes will be on the 27-year-old netminder as he returns home-not just to the city where he grew up, but to the team where he once carried the weight of a fanbase’s expectations.
If there are any lingering hard feelings, Skinner isn’t showing them.
“To give you my honest answer, it doesn’t really matter if I was treated fairly or not,” he said in a recent interview. “I just tried to give my team a chance to win every night I was there.
At the end of the day, you have your job and your home life. That was my job.
I was a goaltender in Edmonton and I absolutely did my best every day I was there. Whether the fans were fair to me or not, or whatever that entails, it doesn’t really matter to me.”
That’s a mature, grounded response from a player who’s clearly found peace with how things ended in Edmonton-and who’s thriving in a new chapter.
Inside the Penguins’ locker room, Skinner has already made a strong impression. Veteran forward Bryan Rust summed it up after a recent win in Calgary: “Immediately, everybody loved him.
Comes in here, works hard, has a huge smile on his face. To see him continue to keep getting better and better and play awesome games for us, it’s cool.”
That kind of praise doesn’t come lightly from a group that’s been through its share of ups and downs. But Skinner’s work ethic, attitude, and performance have made him a quick favorite in Pittsburgh. He’s not just filling a role-he’s becoming part of the team’s identity.
And with Skinner set to hit unrestricted free agency at the end of the season-he’s in the final year of a three-year, $7.8 million deal signed with the Oilers back in 2022-it’s safe to say Penguins GM Kyle Dubas is paying close attention. An extension that once seemed unlikely is now firmly on the radar.
For Skinner, the trade wasn’t just a change of scenery. It was a reset, a chance to prove that the goalie who helped carry the Oilers deep into the playoffs is still very much capable of being a difference-maker. And so far, he’s doing just that-quietly, confidently, and with the kind of perspective that only comes from weathering the highs and lows of life in the crease.
Thursday night in Edmonton won’t be about revenge. It’ll be about reflection-and maybe a little redemption.