Friedman: Oilers need to ask themselves ‘if it’s time to trade Stuart Skinner‘

They sit at 10-10-5 with one game left in November. Their 25 points have them outside the Western conference playoff picture and tied with the San Jose Sharks and Chicago Blackhawks, last season’s basement dwellers.

What’s most worrying about these first couple of months is Edmonton’s minus-18 goal differential, which now matches the Calgary Flames for the worst mark in the Pacific Division.

Despite ranking sixth in the league with 77 goals scored, the Oilers are deep in the red becuase of the 95 goals they’ve allowed. No team has surrendered more, and no goalie tandem in the NHL has performed worse than the .860 combined save percentage posted by Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard.

In this week’s edition of 32 Thoughts, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman wondered if it’s time for the Oilers to consider moving on from Skinner. While Edmonton hoped to get a bounce-back performance from the local product this year, a change of scenery might be necessary for both sides.

I don’t like to overreact to one game. For Edmonton, this is more than one game. After Tuesday’s 8-3 Dallas destruction, the Oilers have no choice but to ask themselves if it’s time to trade Stuart Skinner – for their benefit and his.

It’s 100 per cent true the Oilers are sinking,and Skinner is a part of that. But it’s also true that he’s a young goalie who has shown flashes of brilliance. Maybe a change of scenery is what he needs to rediscover his confidence.

Friedman notes that the Oilers are in a difficult position. They need to improve their goaltending, but they also don’t want to give up on a promising young player.Trading Skinner would be a difficult decision, but it might be the best way to address the team’s biggest weakness.

The Oilers’ struggles aren’t solely on Skinner’s shoulders, but his performance is a significant factor. A shakeup could be what the team needs to reignite their season. The question now is whether GM Ken Holland will explore that possibility.

Key takeaways

• The Oilers are underperforming considerably, with a poor goal differential and a spot outside the playoff picture.
• Stuart Skinner’s performance has been a major contributor to the team’s struggles, alongside Calvin Pickard.
• Elliotte Friedman suggests the Oilers should consider trading Skinner, potentially for the benefit of both the team and the player.
• A change of scenery might help Skinner regain his confidence and form.

Publication Date: 2025/11/27 19:19:06