For Edmonton Oilers fans, watching Stuart Skinner's journey in Pittsburgh has been a bittersweet experience as a reminder of both what made us believe in him and what ultimately led to the difficult decision to move on.
When Skinner arrived in Pittsburgh following his December 12th trade, the initial results were painful to watch. His first three appearances resulted in losses including a particularly tough debut where he surrendered five goals on 22 shots against his former teammates, the very squad he had backstopped for nearly six seasons. Through those opening games, his save percentage sat at a concerning .831 bringing back uncomfortable memories of the struggles that defined his final weeks in Oil Country.
For Oilers faithful who had watched Skinner develop from prospect to starter, it was like watching things in rewind. The inconsistency that plagued his Edmonton tenure seemed to have followed him to Pennsylvania.
But then something clicked. Something Oilers fans have witnessed countless times before.
Over his next three starts, Skinner turned into the goaltender Edmonton management believed they were getting when they handed him the starting role. He has reeled off three consecutive victories while posting a sparkling .957 save percentage and a minuscule 1.00 goals-against average.
Across those contests, he has allowed just three goals on 66 shots in the kind of stretch that makes you remember why the organization invested in him in the first place.
This is the duality of Stuart Skinner that every Oilers fan knows intimately. When he catches fire, he is nearly unbeatable. When he is dialed in, he can steal games and carry a team on his back. The problem in Edmonton was never his ceiling but perhaps in finding a way to reach it consistently.
What the Oilers lost and why they had to let go
Skinner's recent success raises an inevitable question for Oilers supporters. Did we give up on him too soon?
The answer is complicated. At 27 years old, Skinner now carries a 14-11-4 record with a 2.77 GAA and .892 save percentage across 29 games split between both clubs this season. Those numbers tell the story of a capable NHL goaltender who can absolutely win games but just not always when you need him to.
Edmonton's championship window is open right now with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in their prime years. The Oilers needed reliability first and foremost. They needed someone who could be counted on night after night in the grind of an 82-game season and the pressure cooker of playoff hockey. Skinner's hot streaks were never the issue; it was the valleys between those peaks that became untenable for a team with Stanley Cup aspirations.
Stuart Skinner has already become a fan favorite in Pittsburgh
According to Pittsburgh media, Skinner has become an immediate locker room favorite beloved by his new teammates. The familiar "STUUUU!" chants have already taken root at PPG Paints Arena, just as they once echoed through Rogers Place.
After his 28-save performance in a 4-1 victory over New Jersey, Penguins fans embraced him with the same enthusiasm Edmonton fans once showed.
It's heartening to see, honestly. Skinner was always easy to root for in Edmonton, a homegrown success story who worked his way up through the system.
So who won and who lost?
For Edmonton, the Skinner trade was a necessary evolution. The team took a calculated gamble that the goaltending position could be stabilized through other means allowing them to redirect resources toward addressing other roster needs. Whether that gamble pays off remains to be seen, particularly as the playoffs approach and Tristan Jarry yet to return from injury between the pipes.
Meanwhile, Pittsburgh has landed in a different situation. They are fighting for a wild card spot and not yet competing for a championship. In that context, Skinner's inconsistency is perhaps more manageable. A hot streak can be the difference between making and missing the playoffs and his recent three-game run has helped push the Penguins into wild card position in the Eastern Conference.
Stuart Skinner's success in Pittsburgh doesn't necessarily mean the Oilers made a mistake. It means a talented goaltender has found an environment where his strengths align perhaps better with the team's needs and expectations.
Sometimes, that's what a change of scenery accomplishes in a better match between player and situation.
Oilers fans should feel no regret about celebrating Skinner's success while acknowledging why the relationship had run its course. We got to witness his development, his memorable performances, and yes, his frustrating inconsistency. Now Pittsburgh gets that same experience complete with the soaring highs and the "STUUUU!" chants that follow.
For Edmonton, we can wish him well in Pittsburgh while remaining confident that moving on was the right call for where the Oilers are in their competitive timeline.
When he's hot, Stuart Skinner reminds everyone why he was once Edmonton's goalie of the future. The difference now is that he's Pittsburgh's present and for the Oilers, that's exactly where he needs to be.