It’s a good day in Edmonton after the blue and orange squad kept up their winning ways at the showdown against the Winnipeg Jets. On December 4, the Edmonton Oilers beat the Seattle Kraken 9-4 before winning 6-2 against the Jets, animating the scene at Rogers Place, where the team will continue hosting the Buffalo Sabres and the Detroit Red Wings before embarking on a five-game road trip.
As the Oilers attempt to overcome the slump they initially fell into during the season, questions loom about Stuart Skinner’s future with the team.
Elliotte Friedman Weighs in on Stuart Skinner’s Fate
The 27-year-old goalie is nearing the end of his three-year, $7.8 million contract with the Oilers, and thanks to his well-documented spotty record, exacerbated by the Oilers’ defeat at the hands of the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup finals, appeals to replace Skinner have been loud and unforgiving.
Having said that, there is sufficient room to doubt if Skinner will receive a contract extension to stay in Edmonton. It is doubtful if the goalie’s career will be adversely affected in that case.
Skinner may still find employment elsewhere, thanks to the NHL’s dwindling goaltender market, but what about the Oilers? The team has been aggressively linked to Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry. So where exactly do the Oilers stand?
Friedman gave a piece of info on the subject on the latest episode of Saturday Headlines, and for all the Oilers fans who were hoping for Jarry, the insider has no affirmative words to share.
“There has been a lot of noise about Tristan Jarry in the last 24-48 hours. I do think there is legitimate Edmonton interest in Jarry, but I think it is extremely complicated and might not be possible,” Friedman reported.
The Pens management may emerge as the issue here. “Pittsburgh has indicated it will not retain. It might not be possible because Edmonton would have to get some roster surgery done, and right now, because of their own injury and cap situation, they are really stuck. There is interest in Jarry, I just don’t know if it is going to be possible.”
Moreover, despite all the noise around Skinner and the Oilers reaching the end of their road together, it is unlikely for Jarry to replace Skinner outright.
“I don’t think it is a Skinner for Jarry situation. I believe what the Oilers would want to do, if they ever could do this, would be to pair Skinner with Jarry.”
Friedman’s speculation is not unfounded, as many, including Friedman himself, have absolved Skinner from the burden of the massive blame that he occasionally shoulders every time Edmonton loses.