The Pittsburgh Penguins are reportedly exploring trade options for goaltender Stuart Skinner just months after acquiring him from the Edmonton Oilers.
The 27-year-old netminder, who came to Pennsylvania as part of a significant December 12 swap, now reportedly finds himself on the trade block with just days remaining until the March 6 deadline.
Skinner's tenure in Pittsburgh has been inconsistent at best. While he's posted a 19-12-6 record overall this season across 37 games, his .891 save percentage and 2.76 goals-against average falls well short of the elite goaltending Pittsburgh needs for a deep playoff run.
According to several league sources, the Pittsburgh Penguins are reconsidering their long-term plans for Stuart Skinner after the former Edmonton Oilers starter has struggled to find his rhythm behind a porous Penguins defense. Over his last five starts, he has been pulled twice which is a troubling trend for a team currently sitting second in the Metropolitan Division with 75 points and harboring legitimate Stanley Cup aspirations.
NHL insider Chris Johnston of The Athletic also confirmed this week that Skinner could be an option for several contending teams.
When Pittsburgh acquired Skinner in December, they shipped goaltender Tristan Jarry and forward Samuel Poulin to Edmonton along with receiving defenseman Brett Kulak and a 2029 second-round pick in the package.
At the time of the trade, Skinner held an 11-8-4 record through 23 games with Edmonton posting a 2.83 GAA and .891 save percentage, numbers that haven't improved significantly in his new environment.
Skinner's contract situation might demand a trade right now
Skinner is in the final year of a three-year, $7.8 million contract he signed with Edmonton in December 2022. His $2.6 million cap hit is highly manageable making him an attractive option for contending teams looking to bolster their goaltending depth without breaking the bank.
The contract expires at the end of this season after which Skinner will become an unrestricted free agent. This looming free agency may be driving Pittsburgh's willingness to move him now rather than risk losing him for nothing in the summer.
Leafs are exploring the goalie market
With the Penguins having two young goalies in their system with Sergei Murashov and Arturs Silovs, it's fair to wonder if the organization views Skinner as expendable if they don't have plans to re-sign him this summer.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have been actively exploring the goalie market and could view Skinner as an attractive reclamation project. His experience playing in back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals with Edmonton provides the kind of big-game pedigree that Toronto has been desperately seeking.
Other contending teams may also show interest viewing the veteran as a potential playoff upgrade who could stabilize their crease down the stretch.
If Skinner isn't moved by March 6, the Penguins won't be overly stressed as they'll simply ride out the season with their current goaltending tandem. However, the clock seems to officially be ticking on Skinner's time in the Steel City.
For a goaltender who backstopped Edmonton to consecutive Cup Final appearances, being shopped twice in one season represents a humbling fall from grace. Whether Skinner finds stability elsewhere or finishes the season in Pittsburgh remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: his journey through the 2025-26 campaign has been anything but predictable.