Oilers coach addresses long conversation with healthy scratched veteran
Photo credit: Edmonton Oilers Raw
Jeff Skinner has been a healthy scratch for the Edmonton Oilers through their last 9 playoff games, and today Coach Knoblauch was seen having a long conversation with him.
Skinner set an NHL record for playing the longest career without making the playoffs, and that officially changed after he played Game 1 - but then has never played since.
Oilers coach Knoblauch addresses long conversation with Jeff Skinner
At practice today, Coach Knoblauch was seen having a long conversation with Skinner. The pair seem to be obviously discussing Skinner's complete lack of ice time.
Speaking to the media today, Coach Knoblauch explained that he could see Skinner eventually getting back into the lineup.
We took out Arvidsson, he'll be coming back into the lineup very soon. You know, Skinner's a good hockey player. I guess it just depends on what we need. Skinner's going to be in the lineup at some point. Especially in certain roles, some guys can move up and play a type, some can't.
- Coach Knoblauch
- Coach Knoblauch
It's unfortunate, but Jeff Skinner just wasn't an ideal fit for the Edmonton Oilers this season - or at least Knoblauch's vision of them. The Oilers coach has even admitted he didn't fit.
Jeff Skinner will certainly leave Oilers as UFA this summer
Skinner was frequently healthy scratched this year and played mostly bottom six minutes, which saw his offensive totals drop significantly. He's a career sniper with 373 career goals, but his slow and shooting play style just didn't mesh with the Oilers top 6.
All Skinner can do now is hope that an opportunity arises for himself to get another playoff game, but it's very obvious that next season, he'll be signing with a new team as a free agent.
| POLL | ||
MAI 14 | 755 ANSWERS Oilers coach addresses long conversation with healthy scratched veteran Do you think the Jeff Skinner signing was a mistake? | ||
| Yes | 313 | 41.5 % |
| No, they didn't play him enough | 442 | 58.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
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