Stuart Skinner's journey to the Pittsburgh Penguins as part of the trade for Tristan Jarry stirred up quite the buzz in the hockey community. Initially, many believed Skinner might be on the move again before the March 6 deadline, especially after dropping his first three starts with a team in the midst of rebuilding.
But Skinner flipped the script, stringing together wins and helping the Penguins secure the second spot in the Metropolitan Division. This success led some to speculate that GM Kyle Dubas might hold onto his netminder.
However, the situation remains fluid. Team play-by-play commentator Josh Getzoff recently highlighted that with promising young goalies like Arturs Silovs, Sergei Murashov, and Joel Blomqvist waiting in the wings, Dubas might still consider trading Skinner, even with the team eyeing the playoffs.
"I wonder about Stuart Skinner possibly not finishing this year in Pittsburgh," Getzoff noted, suggesting that another move could be on the horizon for the goalie.
At 27, Skinner is in the final year of a three-year, $7.8 million extension he signed with the Oilers in 2022. His record of 19-12-5 over 36 starts with Edmonton and Pittsburgh, along with a 2.69 goals-against average, a .890 save percentage, and two shutouts, paints a picture of a solid performer.
Potential Destinations for Skinner
The idea of Pittsburgh parting ways with their top goalie during a playoff push is unexpected, but Dubas has always kept a keen eye on the future. Skinner might not fit into those long-term plans.
So, who might be interested in Skinner's services?
The Montreal Canadiens could be a logical destination, given their struggles in goal this season. Acquiring Skinner would likely be more affordable than pursuing bigger names like Sergei Bobrovsky or Jordan Binnington. Philadelphia and New Jersey also need goaltending help, though trading within the Metropolitan Division might not be Pittsburgh's first choice.
Out west, the Vegas Golden Knights, Utah Mammoth, and San Jose Sharks are all teams that could benefit from bolstering their netminding depth. There's even a possibility of the Edmonton Oilers looking to bring Skinner back if their goaltending woes persist, though Skinner might be hesitant after how things ended there.
The next week and a half will be crucial in determining Dubas' decision regarding Skinner. With recent trades like Brett Kulak's move to Colorado, it wouldn't be shocking to see Skinner on the move soon as well.