WINNIPEG - Stuart Skinner has already lived through the awkward part of joining a new team, and that matters now that he’s settling in with the Jets.
Skinner was in this spot last season in Pittsburgh after getting traded from Edmonton. This summer, he made another move, signing a two-year, $7.5 million contract with Winnipeg in July. The difference this time, in his view, is that he knows the drill.
“Yeah, 100%. I think, going to Pittsburgh, it definitely helps me in this situation going to a new team again and it was pretty quick in Pitt, too,” said Skinner on Wednesday.
“So, it was a quick turnaround to a quick turnaround, so that experience definitely helped me going through this process right now.”
What Winnipeg is getting isn’t just a goalie with a fresh start. Skinner arrives with a real playoff résumé, one that gives his addition a different kind of weight. The 27-year-old has appeared in 53 playoff games over the last four seasons and has been to the Stanley Cup Final twice with the Edmonton Oilers.
That kind of experience can’t be manufactured. It comes from handling pressure, surviving the grind of spring hockey and dealing with the spotlight that follows an NHL goaltender in a Canadian market.
Skinner sees Winnipeg as another chance to chase that kind of success again.
“Obviously last year they weren’t able to make playoffs, but at the same time look at the teams they were playing against. Obviously, the conference is so strong. There’s a lot of things that go into it,” said Skinner.
“In my opinion I think this team has what it takes to win. It’s just a matter of being able to go through that for the whole year, playing at a consistent level and sticking together through everything.”
From the outside, one of the clearest signs of what Skinner brings is the way opponents talk about him. Mario Ferraro knows him well from time with the San Jose Sharks and from Skinner’s Edmonton days, and his view lines up with the kind of edge Winnipeg wants in its crease.
“I love guys that compete. That’s part of my identity: compete and taking pride in the D zone and I look forward to hopefully…. it always feels good to hear praise from your teammates and I look forward to doing what I can to help keep the puck out of the net and block shots and do that kind of thing and hear some praise from him,” said Ferraro.
“That’s a goal. So, he's obviously a competitor and I look up to guys like that because it is something I like to take pride in.”
Skinner is also stepping into a situation that brings him something he has wanted for a while: a chance to work with Jets goalie coach Wade Flaherty.
“I’ve heard so many good things about him ever since I’ve gotten into starting my career and obviously, playing Winnipeg a few times, being able to cross paths here and there. So, I always wanted to ask him for advice so finally, I’ll actually get to get some advice from him,” said Skinner.
“So, I’m very fortunate, very lucky to be working with someone like him.”
That relationship is already off to a strong start in Skinner’s eyes.
“With me and Flats I have all the trust in the world in him,” he said. “I think he’s an amazing guy, he’s very calm and has incredible intelligence.”
The move to Winnipeg is still new. Skinner doesn’t have every name down yet, and the daily routine is still taking shape. But the part that matters most - the hockey itself - is already beginning to feel comfortable.
In Other News...
Connor Hellebuyck Trade Noise Is Suddenly Hanging Over Jets Camp
Stuart Skinners first appearance with the Jets during informal skates ahead of training camp was one of the more notable on-ice developments around the club, with Alex Iafallo, Gabriel Vilardi and Morgan Barron also taking part as Winnipeg begins to build toward another season. There was also a separate note on the prospect side, as 2026 third-round pick Samuel Hrenk opted to return to the Fargo Force of the USHL for the 2026-27 season after being selected by the Moose Jaw Warriors in the CHL Import Draft.
But even with the skates getting underway, the conversation around camp has been pulled toward Connor Hellebuyck and the trade noise surrounding the Jets goalie. Interest from other teams has been part of the backdrop, though captain Blake Lowry has tried to tamp down the chatter, leaving Winnipeg in the familiar spot of trying to keep the focus on hockey while one of its biggest names sits at the center of speculation. [Read more 🡒]
Connor Hellebuyck Trade Pressure Is Rising At The Worst Time
Connor Hellebuycks name is back in the middle of trade chatter, and it comes at a delicate moment for the Jets. The three-time Vezina Trophy winner has long been one of Winnipegs defining players, but the runway for any major move appears to be narrowing as the club weighs its options heading toward training camp.
The Buffalo Sabres and Jets had explored a framework earlier in the draft period before the talks broke down over the draft-pick component, and the landscape has only shifted since then with no-trade list changes affecting what each side can even put on the table. Winnipeg still has a path to work something out, but if a deal gets done, it may have to come with a lighter return than the Jets were hoping for. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Goaltending Battle Suddenly Feels Much More Real
The Jets goaltending picture has shifted from background noise to a real storyline, with Stuart Skinner now openly acknowledging the possibility that he could be asked to take on the starting job this season. Skinner, who signed a two-year deal with Winnipeg last July, said he is staying locked in on his role even as the larger conversation around the crease grows louder.
Adam Lowry said the club will continue to treat Connor Hellebuyck as a member of the Jets while his situation remains unresolved, which keeps the team in a holding pattern for now. For Skinner, the uncertainty puts the spotlight on a position that can change everything for a contender, and his place in that picture may end up being the one most affected if the situation moves in a new direction. [Read more 🡒]