The San Jose Sharks made a notable decision on a former Oilers veteran forward on Monday, a move that comes amid the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. Now, that veteran is once again headed toward free agency.
Former Oiler Headed Back to the Open Market
The player in question is Jeff Skinner. San Jose placed the winger on unconditional waivers to terminate his contract. If no team claims the remaining $3 million cap hit on his deal, he’ll become an unrestricted free agent.
This isn’t unfamiliar territory for Skinner. After the 2024-25 season, he became a free agent following a one-year, $3 million stint with the Edmonton Oilers. Then, he signed with the Sharks on a similar deal in hopes of providing some secondary scoring two weeks into free agency.
But things never quite clicked in San Jose.
Skinner managed just six goals and 13 points in 32 games. As the season progressed, his role diminished. He was a healthy scratch for 10 straight games heading into the Olympic break, and last played on Jan. 11. With younger players like Michael Misa stepping into bigger roles and the Sharks acquiring Kiefer Sherwood from Vancouver, Skinner was pushed further down the depth chart.
There simply wasn’t much of a fit anymore.
Why a Trade Didn’t Happen
There appears to be some interest in Skinner around the league, just not at his current price. Even if San Jose tried to move him for minimal return, other teams didn’t want to take on his full $3 million salary.
The Sharks could have agreed to retain part of that salary to make a deal easier, but they only have one salary retention slot available through next season. They’re not eager to use it on a short-term situation involving a veteran winger.
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So instead of forcing a complicated trade, the Sharks opted to terminate the contract.
This isn’t the first time Skinner has hit free agency before a contract naturally expired. After the 2023-24 season, the Buffalo Sabres bought out the remainder of his eight-year, $72 million contract, which carried a $9 million annual cap hit.
Now, once again, he’s headed back to the open market. If he clears waivers, Skinner will be free to sign with any team. For the Sharks, the move clears $3 million in cap space. For Skinner, it’s another opportunity to find the right fit, likely at a lower cost, and prove he can still contribute in the right situation.
