Top Oilers analyst warns against team making major mistake with Stuart Skinner
Photo credit: Imagn Images
On his appearance of the Spittin' Chiclets podcast, analyst Bob Stauffer warned against the Oilers making the same mistake with Stuart Skinner as they did with former Oilers' goalie Devan Dubnyk.
I don't want to see Edmonton make the same mistake that they made with Dubnyk. I think you got to give Skinner a chance. He's 26. He was never supposed to be the starting goal for a playoff run two years ago. Jack Campbell was supposed to be the order's number one goalie at the start of the year.
He's lighter, he's quicker, he has a new goalie coach, he has a new voice. Let's see what happens here.
- Bob Stauffer
He's lighter, he's quicker, he has a new goalie coach, he has a new voice. Let's see what happens here.
- Bob Stauffer
Both Skinner and Dubnyk had similar starts to Edmonton career
During the 2013-14 season, Dubnyk posted an .891 SV% and 3.43 GAA in 32 starts, leading to him being traded to the Nashville Predators on Jan. 15, 2014.
Before Saturday's game against New Jersey, Skinner's record with the Oilers was 99-55-15 record through 177 games, with a .906 SV% and a 2.72 GAA. Dubnyk had posted 61-76-21 record through 171 games in Edmonton, with a .910 SV% and a 2.88 GAA.
The two goalies' stats are comparable; yet, looking back, some believe moving Dubnyk was premature, as the Oilers struggled to find his replacement, a scenario Bob Stauffer says must be avoided by giving Skinner the opportunity to prove himself.
Of course, Skinner's difficulties have been well-documented these last two seasons, in particular his performances in the playoffs, which many believe resulted in the Oilers not winning a Stanley Cup.
He is at the point in his Oilers' career where he must now have a career year, or be dealt before the season-end - it really is that black and white.
Both Skinner and Pickard are pending unrestricted free agents at the end of the 2025-26 season, and both goalies' future with the club hangs in the balance.
Analyst says give Skinner a chance to prove his worth this year
«I think there's some runway for him during this year, but beyond this I think all bets are off if there's a lack of success there,» said Stauffer. «But I also think he can secure himself full-time employment long-term with an extension if he has a hell of a year and the Oilers win the final game of the playoffs.»
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