The Edmonton Oilers’ disappointing first-round playoff exit against the Anaheim Ducks has reopened plenty of questions about what went wrong this season, especially the decision to move on from goaltender Stuart Skinner at such a heavy price.
Now, one Oilers insider is revisiting the deal and wondering whether organizational panic and an overemotional approach led the franchise down the wrong path.
Oilers’ Tristan Jarry-Brett Kulak-Stuart Skinner Trade Back in the Spotlight
The Oilers entered the 2025-26 season with Stanley Cup expectations but stumbled to a rough 4-11-2 start. Skinner struggled early, posting an .878 save percentage, and Edmonton eventually decided to bite the bullet and make a major change in goal.
To that end, they traded Skinner, defenseman Brett Kulak, and a 2029 second-round pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Jarry and forward Samuel Poulin.
Tristan Jarry briefly gave the Edmonton Oilers a spark but finished with a 4.86 GAA and .858 save percentage before losing the starting role to Connor Ingram. Meanwhile, Kulak has thrived in Colorado, scoring his first career playoff game-winner in overtime against the Minnesota Wild in Game 5, his fourth playoff goal in 107 games.
After the goal, Kulak admitted even he was surprised to be the hero. “I’m not the guy everyone’s looking down the bench like, ‘alright, get out there and go win it for us,” Kulak said.
That performance reignited criticism of the original trade, with NHL insider Jason Gregor questioning why Edmonton gave up so much for Jarry. Gregor argued the Oilers panicked after a slow start and overreacted by blaming Skinner for the team’s struggles.
“You give up Skinner, you give up Brett Kulak, and a second-rounder for Tristan Jarry, who was on waivers a year earlier? Why? Did you have to give up that much to get [Mackenzie] Blackwood? Did you have to give up that much to get [Scott] Wedgewood? Like, what are we doing?” Gregor questioned.
He went on to suggest the Oilers may have made an emotional decision instead of a calculated hockey move. “That was a decision based on, ‘Oh my, things aren’t going well,’ overreaction,” Gregor added. “Just doesn’t look good. Is the organization emotionally overreacting?”
His comments echoed a growing belief around the league that Edmonton may have slammed the panic button too quickly after a rough start to the season.
Despite the dispiriting turn of events, Edmonton still has two of the NHL’s biggest offensive powerhouses in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. The challenge now is finding the right moves to get the team back into Stanley Cup contention.
DON’T MISS: ‘Last-Ditch Effort to Pass the Blame’: NHL World Raises Questions as Oilers Fire Kris Knoblauch
But as Edmonton evaluates what went wrong, the Jarry trade is likely to remain one of the organization’s biggest regrets.
What was supposed to stabilize the Oilers instead cost them a young-ish goaltender, a dependable, seasoned defenseman, and a valuable draft pick, while leaving the team in an even worse position by season’s end.
