After months of rumours and speculation surrounding the Edmonton Oilers goaltending situation, it was announced on Friday that the club was closing in on a deal to rectify this issue, acquiring a long rumoured upgrade.
TRADE 🔄 The #Oilers have acquired goaltender Tristan Jarry & forward Samuel Poulin from the @penguins in exchange for goaltender Stuart Skinner, defenceman Brett Kulak & a second-round draft selection in 2029. https://t.co/30mRcsl4YD
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) December 12, 2025
Shortly after the team announced that they had acquired goalie Tristan Jarry from the Pittsburgh Penguins, also receiving prospect forward Samuel Poulin in the deal.
Going the other way is Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner, defenceman Brett Kulak, and a 2029 second round draft pick.
In addition to acquiring Jarry, the Oilers made a second trade of the day acquiring Spencer Stastney from the Nashville Predators for a 2027 third round pick.
All-in, the Oilers acquired Jarry, Poulin, and Stastney for Skinner, Kulak, a 2029 second round pick and a 2027 third round pick.
Oilers get their guy in net
Although some are weary of the acquisition, given some of his inconsistencies and performances in recent seasons, there is optimism that Jarry does represent an upgrade in net. This season alone, in 13 games holds a 9-3-1 record with a 2.66 goals against average and a .909 save percentage.
Skinner on the other hand has a 11-8-4 record through 23 games with a 2.83 GAA and a .891 save percentage. He has turned his season around in recent games but the hole he dug early on seems to have been insurmountable, even for the Oilers management.
Digging into the numbers on evolving-hockey.com, Jarry does appear to be the better netminder of the two. Over the last three seasons, even with his poor performance in 2024-25, he has an 11.66 goals saved above expected, compared to Skinner's 8.73. It is not an enormous upgrade but an upgrade nonetheless.
Especially for a team that has been so close to winning it all, a marginal upgrade here or there can make a much larger impact.
Moving ahead, this now gives the Oilers a tandem of Jarry and Calvin Pickard, unless the club opts to make another move in goal like recalling Connor Ingram from their AHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors.