Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Stuart Skinner made headlines for all the wrong reasons after a viral quote spread across social media. The comment in question suggested Skinner was taking an uncalled-for shot at his former team, the Edmonton Oilers, and by extension, their superstar Connor McDavid.
However, whether Skinner actually said it quickly became the real story.
Did Stuart Skinner Take a Shot Clowing the Oilers and Connor McDavid?
Stuart Skinner’s trade from the Edmonton Oilers to the Pittsburgh Penguins on December 12, 2025, remains one of the most abrupt “change of scenery” moves in recent NHL history. After back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances, both losses to Florida, the Oilers’ decision to move their homegrown starter signaled a major shift in their goaltending plans.
Skinner’s tenure in Pittsburgh began slowly, but he has since settled in and produced solid performances. By all accounts, when the playoffs roll around, it will be Skinner’s net in Pittsburgh.
But back to the controversy, which emerged after the Penguins’ dominant 8-3 win over the New York Islanders on Monday night.
During that game, Anthony Mantha recorded two goals and three points, prompting praise from fans. Soon after, an X (formerly Twitter) account by the username “Penguins Jesus” posted a quote that sparked the debate: “Honestly, I’ve been to two straight Stanley Cup Finals and if we had a player half as good as Anthony Mantha on those teams I’d be wearing two rings right now.”
The same account also added “clarification,” writing, “That wasn’t a shot at McDavid or Leon [Draisaitl], those guys are two of the best to ever play. Just saying Anthony Mantha scores when it counts, doesn’t blame his goalies, and doesn’t statpad against the Little Sisters of the Poor.”
The comment quickly went viral. Fans and analysts began questioning whether Skinner had just taken a swipe at his former teammates, and at Connor McDavid, despite the Oilers’ deep playoff runs.
The Truth Behind the Viral Quote
The claim, however, turned out to be false. The quote originated from a parody-style fan account and was not an actual statement from Skinner. Despite that, it spread rapidly across X and Facebook, showing how quickly misinformation can snowball in the NHL community.
Even the popular Steve Dangle Podcast discussed it as if it were real. During the show, NHL analyst Adam Wylde suggested, “I think he meant it in the sense that he was just trying to pump his teammates’ tires. Mantha had a great game.”
The moment was surprising, considering the quote itself wasn’t authentic. Later, Steve Dangle realized the mistake and jokingly tweeted: “Oh buddy, I’m gonna get back from Calgary and kick your butt @AdamWylde”
The original fan account then responded, “I don’t blame them. But I do love when our little fanbase inside jokes grow legs and run.”
What began as a simple fan joke quickly turned into widespread “news” across NHL circles. The incident highlights how easily narratives can form, especially when they involve big names, former teams, and emotional playoff history.
In the end, Stuart Skinner never took a shot at the Oilers or McDavid. But the viral episode serves as a reminder: in today’s social media landscape, even a single tweet can take on a life of its own.
