Oilers fitness testing confirms major change with goalie Stuart Skinner

On a recent edition of OilersNow, insider Bob Stauffer and GM Stan Bowman both made remarks that Stuart Skinner has lost a significant amount of weight, and looked much more agile. Now, the team's posted new official stats.

The Oilers have unveiled their full training camp roster today, including height and weight measurements for players. Stuart Skinner is down to 205 pounds, after entering last season at 230 pounds according to HockeyDB.

For a position like goaltending where agility and short spurts of fast movement is required, carrying extra weight like Skinner did last year could be an impediment to making saves.

In past seasons, Skinner had been found to have the slowest lateral movement of any NHL goaltender, and it has been used against him by the opposition.

Shedding some weight and working with new goalie coach Peter Aubry should be able to get some more out of Skinner's game. It seems like Skinner himself is incredibly committed to being better this year.

After dropping to an .896 save percentage last season and losing the starter's role in the playoffs, Skinner is in a make-or-break year with the Oilers. The team is giving him the benefit of the doubt to run it back with no changes to the crease - but if Skinner can't improve, the Oilers will need a move at the trade deadline.

Hopefully this physical transformation is a key to unlocking better results from Skinner, and he can deliver this season with the pressure on.