It’s been over six weeks since the Edmonton Oilers and Pittsburgh Penguins pulled the trigger on a bold goaltending swap-one that raised eyebrows across the league. On December 12, Edmonton shipped Stuart Skinner, defenseman Brett Kulak, and a 2029 second-round pick to Pittsburgh in exchange for veteran netminder Tristan Jarry and forward Samuel Poulin.
At first glance, this looked like a lateral move in the crease. Skinner and Jarry are both seasoned NHL goalies in their prime-Skinner at 27, Jarry at 30-with eerily similar career numbers at the time of the deal. Both carried a 2.74 goals-against average (GAA), with Jarry holding a slight edge in save percentage (.909 to Skinner’s .904).
But the numbers only tell part of the story.
Why the Oilers Made the Move
From Edmonton’s perspective, the move was about stability and upside. Jarry has long been viewed as a technically sound, composed presence in the net-traits the Oilers were hoping could bring more consistency to a team with Stanley Cup aspirations. While Skinner had backstopped Edmonton to back-to-back Western Conference titles, he’d also faced his share of scrutiny for untimely goals and stretches of uneven play.
On the flip side, Jarry’s playoff résumé has been less than stellar. He’s yet to push a team past the first round, which is a glaring contrast to Skinner’s deep postseason experience. But sometimes, a change of scenery is all a goaltender needs-and so far, that seems to be the case for both sides.
Early Returns: A Win-Win?
Since the trade, both goalies have responded well to their new environments. Jarry has gone 6-2-1 with the Oilers.
Skinner has posted a 7-4-0 record in Pittsburgh. More importantly, both teams seem to be playing with renewed confidence in front of their new netminders.
Let’s dig into the numbers.
For Edmonton, Jarry has started nine games, putting up a 3.23 GAA and a .884 save percentage. Those aren’t eye-popping stats, but they don’t tell the full story. Jarry’s made timely saves and avoided the kind of momentum-killing soft goals that haunted Skinner at times.
Skinner, meanwhile, has been sharp in Pittsburgh. Through 11 starts, he’s posted a 2.31 GAA and a .906 save percentage-both improvements over his numbers in Edmonton earlier this season (2.83 GAA, .891 SV%).
Interestingly, both goalies are putting up better stats in Pittsburgh than in Edmonton, which suggests there’s more at play than just the guy in the crease. Defensive structure, shot quality, and team play in front of the net all factor in-and right now, Pittsburgh seems to be giving Skinner a more manageable workload.
Edmonton’s Offense Picking Up the Slack
One major difference since the trade? Scoring support.
In games Jarry has started, the Oilers are averaging 4.44 goals per game-a noticeable uptick from the 3.17 goals they averaged when Skinner was in net. That kind of offensive cushion can make a world of difference for a goaltender. It allows Jarry to play looser, focus on the big stops, and not feel like every goal against is a backbreaker.
So while Jarry’s numbers aren’t sparkling, the Oilers are winning with him-and that’s what matters most.
What This Means for the Playoff Push
The real test for this trade won’t come until the spring. Skinner helped guide the Oilers to two straight Stanley Cup Final appearances. Jarry, for all his regular-season success, has yet to prove he can be the backbone of a deep playoff run.
Right now, Edmonton is betting that Jarry’s calm demeanor and technical polish will pay off when the stakes are highest. They’re hoping he’s the steadying force who can not only get them back to the championship round-but help them finish the job.
As for Skinner, he’s making his case in Pittsburgh, giving the Penguins solid play and a chance to stay in the hunt. Both teams rolled the dice with this trade, and so far, it looks like both are getting what they needed.
Jarry and the Oilers will look to keep the momentum going when they host the San Jose Sharks at Rogers Place on Thursday night, eyeing a third straight win. The games that matter most are still ahead-but if early returns are any indication, this goalie swap might just work out for everyone involved.