Jeff Skinner has been a healthy scratch for the San Jose Sharks for the past five games, and questions are being asked when he will return to the lineup.

Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky didn’t sugarcoat the reasons behind the veteran’s lack of playing time. The bench boss says it is coming down to numbers.

“It’s a numbers thing. I think Skins, when he came back in last time he was a scratch, gave us some good minutes. Played some good hockey,” Warsofsky said.

Skinner has played 32 games this season for the Sharks and hasn’t found the scoring touch that the team hoped for. In his 32 games, the San Jose Sharks winger has just six goals and seven assists. Skinner signed a one-year, $3 million contract in the off-season, hoping to rediscover the scoring prowess he showed in the past.

Pavol Regenda’s surge has affected Skinner’s playing time. In just 13 games, the Sharks winger has eight goals. Coming into this season, Regenda had just one goal in 19 NHL games.

It’s still kind of hard to believe that Pavol Regenda is the Sharks’ leading goal scorer since he was called up on Dec. 30. He’s definitely earned it, but he had one goal in 19 career NHL games before this season. pic.twitter.com/UOU0kvzZFt

— Curtis Pashelka (@CurtisPashelka) January 24, 2026

Without naming Regenda directly, Warsofsky referenced that the play of other players is influencing Skinner’s playtime.

“We’re trying to balance. There are some development needs to be had with some of our younger players. They get a little bit of a leash,” Warsofsky said. “There are some guys that we want to see continue to take a look at. But, you know, there’s a lot of hockey left here.”

When Skinner signed his contract over the summer, he had some trade protection. The 33-year-old has a full no-trade clause through January 30th, similar to John Klingberg. After January 30th, his trade protection changes to an 8-team trade list. As the Olympic break and NHL Trade Deadline approach, Skinner’s name will almost certainly be in trade rumors.

Philipp Kurashev is skating, and Shakir Mukhamadullin is considered day-to-day, so a return is coming. The San Jose Sharks have one open spot on their active roster, but there is a needed roster crunch on the horizon.