Stuart Skinner still feels the weight of another disappointing finish, but the Edmonton Oilers goaltender says this offseason carries a different tone.
The Oilers fell to the Florida Panthers for the second straight year in the Stanley Cup Final. Yet, Skinner believes the experience has given him and his teammates the perspective needed to bounce back when camp opens in September.
Stuart Skinner Confident Oilers Can Reset After Another Final Loss
“Going through it a second time, which is obviously devastating, but being able to say you went through this does actually help you get over it quicker, just because you have to go back into training and do it all over again,” Skinner said during the “Rogers Legends of Hockey” event on Saturday.
The 26-year-old returned to the ice in early August at his offseason home in Kelowna, British Columbia. That later start was by design. Last summer, he jumped back into skates too soon; this time, he wanted to be stronger and fresher heading into training camp.
“It was hard to stay off as long as I did, but that’s a really good sign. It means you really love the game, and I’m really excited to be back on the ice,” he explained.
The Oilers are determined to avoid the sluggish start that haunted them last season, when they dropped five of their first seven games. That stumble came from a Game 7 heartbreak against Florida the year before.
With back-to-back Final losses behind them, Skinner feels the group is more prepared to handle the quick turnaround.
Oilers Core Holds Strong With New Faces Added
The team’s foundation remains steady as Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl drive the offense. Skinner will again share the crease with backup Calvin Pickard.
The Oilers made some changes up front. Andrew Mangiapane, David Tomasek, Curtis Lazar, and NCAA standout Isaac Howard were added to the lineup. They will replace Evander Kane, who was traded to Vancouver, and Corey Perry and Connor Brown, who signed elsewhere in free agency.
Even with the roster shuffle, Skinner sees reasons for optimism. “Being able to pick up some pieces, obviously we lost some guys and that’s always the hard part about the business — you make some great relationships, great friendships, and they get traded or sign somewhere else or whatever,” he said.
Skinner is entering his fourth full season with the Oilers and the final year of his three-year, $7.8 million deal. He’s eligible for free agency in 2026, though his focus remains firmly on this season.
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His track record includes nearly 100 career wins, an All-Star appearance, a Calder Trophy nomination, and two trips to the Cup Final. In playoff action, he has 26 victories, four shutouts, and the kind of experience that can’t be faked.
“I think being able to be in the position that I’m in and being able to do what I’ve done with an amazing group of guys, it’s pretty cool,” he said.
