The Edmonton Oilers will keep Stuart Skinner as their starting goaltender for the upcoming season, according to insider commentary, despite consecutive Stanley Cup Finals defeats. The decision centers around Skinner’s playoff contributions and potential, keeping the Stuart Skinner Oilers starting goalie debate prominent in team discussions.
Oilers Stand by Skinner After Stanley Cup Setbacks
Following the Oilers’ second straight Stanley Cup Finals loss to the Florida Panthers, Stuart Skinner faced considerable scrutiny for his performance. In the 2024-25 finals, Skinner started the first two games but was removed in both the third game, after surrendering five goals, and the fourth game, where he allowed three. Calvin Pickard briefly replaced him for Game 5. Skinner returned for Game 6 but gave up another three goals, contributing to the team’s final defeat.
Despite this, team insider Jason Gregor vocalized strong support for maintaining Skinner as the top choice in net. Speaking on Sportsnet 590, Gregor underscored Skinner’s pivotal role in helping Edmonton secure convincing series wins over both Dallas and Vegas in the earlier playoff rounds.
“I think there’s a lot of people that forgot that Edmonton really kind of cruised through the first three rounds after, they had two bad games, and then they went 12-2. They walloped Dallas and Vegas, two really good teams. Like, those series weren’t even close,” Gregor said.
“And Stu Skinner two years in a row was infinitely better than (Dallas goalie) Jake Oettinger.”
Evaluating the Need for Changes in Net
Gregor did admit that Sergei Bobrovsky of the Florida Panthers outperformed Skinner during the Finals, but he cautioned against the Oilers making any sudden moves to overhaul their goaltending. According to Gregor, the organization may look to make changes in their goalie coaching staff instead of spending extensively to bring in a veteran like New Jersey’s Jake Allen.
“He’s not Bobrovsky, right? So Florida was had the better goalie in the final no question about that. So I think that they will look, I think they’re going to make a change to their goalie coach.” Gregor said.
Gregor also pointed out that Skinner didn’t allow many soft goals, except for a rebound in Game 6, but struggled to make critical saves during pivotal moments. Still, Gregor observed development in Skinner’s playoff performances as the postseason progressed.
Skinner’s Playoff Experience and Future Trajectory
Stuart Skinner, at just 26 years old, has already made an impact with 50 career playoff appearances, maintaining a 2.88 goals-against average and a .893 save percentage. Gregor highlighted how unique this experience is among young NHL goaltenders, emphasizing Skinner’s youth and the rarity of such playoff exposure at his age.
“He’s (Skinner) a young goalie at 26 there’s only seven goalies in the NHL who are younger than Skinner and played more than 20 games last year, seven and those guys have a combined three playoff games. Skinner has 50 right like he’s still a young goalie.”
While Skinner may not match elite names like Sergei Bobrovsky, Gregor reiterated that the Oilers do not rely on their starting goalie to steal every game. Notably, Skinner has managed to secure key wins and currently stands out for both his workload and potential for future growth, compared to peers such as Jake Oettinger and others across Vegas, Dallas, and New Jersey.
What the Oilers’ Decision Means Moving Forward
By choosing to support Skinner as their starting netminder, the Edmonton Oilers signal a vote of confidence in his ongoing development and playoff experience, keeping the focus keyword Stuart Skinner Oilers starting goalie in sharp view for fans and analysts. Any restructuring is more likely to involve the coaching staff than high-profile player acquisitions, as the team aims to build stability and hone Skinner’s abilities rather than launch a full-scale overhaul after tough Finals losses. The decision sends the message that steady improvement, rather than reactionary changes, will define the Oilers’ approach to goaltending for the foreseeable future.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why is Stuart Skinner number 74?
A. Stuart Skinner is getting a restaurant in Edmonton named after him. Pizza 73 will change its name to Pizza 74, matching Skinner’s jersey number.
This partnership will also have a special meal called the “Skinner Dinner.” It comes with a large two-topping pizza and three drinks for $18.99.
Q. Has Stuart Skinner ever scored?
A. On March 18, 2016, Skinner scored an empty net goal while playing for the Lethbridge Hurricanes against the Medicine Hat Tigers. He became the only goalie in the team’s history and just the seventh in WHL history to achieve this.