Last season, the Edmonton Oilers decided that they were no longer able to wait for goaltender Stuart Skinner to discover a sense of consistency, and they shipped him in a blockbuster trade to the Pittsburgh Penguins in return for Tristan Jarry, a deal that had mixed results for both franchises.
And while there was some thought that Skinner could potentially return to the Penguins, the unrestricted free agent has instead made a different choice, and he’s coming back to Canada.
On the opening day of the NHL Free Agency period, the Winnipeg Jets announced that they’ve signed Skinner to a two-year contract with a $3.75 million salary cap hit.
Former Edmonton Oilers Goaltender Stuart Skinner Is Joining The Jets
Skinner, who was traded last season from the Oilers to the Penguins, and he’s looking forward to the opportunity.
“I think just conversations with me and my agent, talking about being able to go into an organization like that, how they treat their players, and all that really fits into what I was looking for,” said Skinner via Zoom.
“I know some of the guys on the team already living out in Calgary now, so it’ll be easy for me to get on ice and get some good summer training in with those guys and really develop a great relationship with those guys.”
Meanwhile, Skinner wasn’t thinking about the Jets allowing the fewest goals in 2023-24 and 2024-25 with goaltender Connor Hellebuyck getting the bulk of the starts.
“I honestly wasn’t thinking too much about that. I think the conversations were more based on the type of place I’m going into being able to be a Winnipeg Jet. So that was the main basis of it,” said Skinner.
“Obviously, the Jennings that you bring up excites me as well. Hopefully, we can continue to do that. I’m certainly going to do my best. I think it’s a really exciting moment for me, obviously, to get this deal done and to be a Jet.”
Of course, Skinner knows all about the pressure of playing in Canada, having gone with the Oilers twice in a row to the Stanley Cup Final.
“The type of team that’s been built up, we got a good chance. That makes it very, very exciting for me. So, I understand the pressure going into a Canadian market.”
Now, all eyes of Jets fans will be watching for future developments concerning the future of Hellebuyck, who is embroiled in trade rumors, with the franchise.
Stuart Skinner Was Traded Last Season To The Penguins
Even though he spent significant time guarding the crease during Edmonton’s back-to-back runs to the Stanley Cup Final, the Oilers moved on from Skinner, dealing him to Pittsburgh in December.
After joining the Penguins, Skinner posted a 12-9-5 record along with a 2.99 goals-against average and a .885 save percentage, without recording a shutout.
He opened the 2026 playoffs as Pittsburgh’s starter, appearing in the first three games, but was later pulled in favor of Šilovs for the final three contests. Šilovs had been acquired from Vancouver by the Penguins the previous offseason.
Former Oilers Goalie Stuart Skinner Joins Canadian Rival