The Winnipeg Jets may have made their most important offseason move without much noise.
While the team has been quiet overall this summer, one signing could end up carrying far more weight than it first appeared. With rumors swirling around Connor Hellebuyck’s future, the Jets’ decision to bring in Stuart Skinner on a two-year deal worth $7.5 million suddenly looks a lot bigger than a standard depth addition.
Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff knew the roster had holes and started to address them. Winnipeg also added forward Noah Gregor and defenseman Mario Ferraro, but Skinner may be the piece that matters most if the goaltending picture changes.
If Hellebuyck is moved, Skinner would slide right into the starting role. He has spent time as a backup, but he has also handled starter duties before, and he brings playoff experience with him.
The source material notes that he has done well in those games, something that cannot be said for Hellebuyck. At the very least, Skinner gives Winnipeg a reliable backup.
At most, he gives the Jets a ready-made starter who has already been in that spot and knows what it takes to carry the load.
Skinner’s track record suggests there is more here than a simple depth signing. The 27-year-old has spent most of his NHL career with the Edmonton Oilers and also played this past season with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
He has had seasons with at least 11 wins, and his best came in 2023-24, when he won 36 games and finished sixth in Vezina Trophy voting. That kind of recognition points to a goalie who has flashed high-end ability, even if he has not always gotten the credit.
The explanation for that, according to the source, was the defense in front of him. In Edmonton, Skinner was viewed as exceptional year after year, but the team’s back end kept him from getting the full spotlight.
The same basic issue followed him to Pittsburgh last season. He finished 12-9-5 with an .885 save percentage and a 2.99 goals-against average, but those numbers, the source argues, don’t capture how often he kept the Penguins in games and came up with key stops.
That’s why Winnipeg could be such an interesting fit. With a stronger defense in front of him, Skinner could put himself back into the Vezina conversation. And if Hellebuyck stays, Skinner still has value as a goalie who is qualified to step in and deliver when called upon.
For a team that may be on the verge of something bigger, the Skinner signing might be the one that ends up mattering most. He brings experience, flexibility and a chance to prove himself in Winnipeg.
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Why The Jets Could Be At The Center Of NHL's Next Fight
The next round of NHL labor talks may not be centered on the usual salary-cap flashpoints. Instead, one of the issues likely to draw real attention is the growing debate over no-trade and no-movement clauses, the kind of contract language that gives players control over where they can and cannot be dealt. Elliotte Friedman said the topic is expected to come up in the next CBA negotiations, with some teams wanting to curb that level of player control.
For Winnipeg, the discussion has an obvious local edge because the Jets have already lived through the complications that come with those clauses. Friedman noted that Commissioner Gary Bettman has not made the issue a priority in the current CBA, but it is the sort of problem that tends to resurface once teams start pushing for more flexibility. If the league does revisit it, the Jets could find themselves right in the middle of a fight that extends well beyond one roster decision. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Let A Franchise Goalie Slip Away For One Frustrating Reason
The Sabres and Jets spent time on a Connor Hellebuyck trade framework that would have reshaped the top of the draft, but the talks never got past the price tag. Buffalo was willing to move up from No. 8 to No. 4, while Winnipeg wanted more than a simple swap and pushed for both top-10 picks to be included in the deal.
For Winnipeg, the standoff is another reminder of how hard it is to pry away a franchise goalie when the return has to match the value. For Buffalo, it leaves a lingering question about whether the club was ever truly close to landing Hellebuyck, and whether either side will circle back now that the draft has passed. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Fans Wont Like The Latest Connor Hellebuyck Trade Buzz
For a Jets team that has built so much of its identity around Connor Hellebuyck, any fresh trade buzz is bound to land with a thud in Winnipeg. Recent reports have kept his name in the rumor mill, with NHL executives speculating that Colorado might have at least explored the idea of getting involved, while other clubs like Buffalo and Carolina were also mentioned in more advanced conversations.
Nothing concrete has come out of the Avalanche angle, and Hellebuyck is still in Winnipeg for now, which is the part that matters most to Jets fans. Even so, the fact that one of the leagues premier goaltenders keeps surfacing in trade chatter is enough to keep the temperature up around a team that would rather be talking about stability in net than wondering who might come calling next. [Read more 🡒]