Stuart Skinner’s exit from Edmonton turned heads last month, but the former Oilers goalie isn’t losing sleep over how fans reacted to his departure.
Skinner was sent to the Pittsburgh Penguins in a goalie swap that brought Tristan Jarry to Edmonton, officially closing the chapter on a six-season run with the team that drafted and developed him. Since the move, Skinner has reflected on his time with the Oilers and the criticism that came with it with a notably calm perspective.
Skinner Unfazed by Fan Reaction in Edmonton
Skinner had spent his entire NHL career in Edmonton before the trade and was a big part of the Oilers reaching the Stanley Cup Final in back-to-back seasons. Still, his performance in last year’s Final stuck with many fans for the wrong reasons.
He struggled in Game 6 against Florida, giving up five goals in a 5-1 loss. And was also pulled in Game 4 after allowing three goals. Those moments added to the frustration as Edmonton once again fell short of winning the Cup.
The scrutiny carried into the start of this season. Skinner posted an .891 save percentage early on, and as the Oilers slid down the standings, criticism from the fan base grew louder. By the time he was traded to Pittsburgh, some fans were even cheering the move.
Asked about that reaction before Thursday’s game, Skinner made it clear he isn’t bothered. “To give you my honest answer. It doesn’t really matter if I was treated fairly or not,” Skinner said. “I don’t even care if I was treated fairly or not.”
Looking back, Skinner said his focus was always on doing his job, not winning over public opinion.
“I just tried to give my team a chance to win every night I was there,” he explained. “At the end of the day, you have your job and your home life. That was my job. I was a goaltender in Edmonton, and I absolutely did my best every day I was there. Whether the fans were fair to me or not, it doesn’t really matter to me.”
Emotional Return to Edmonton
Skinner has already faced his former team once this season. On December 16, the Oilers beat the Penguins 6-4. Thursday marked another reunion, this time in Edmonton, where the Oilers skated to a 6-2 loss.
Despite the circumstances, Skinner admitted returning to Edmonton brought mixed emotions. He added that he wouldn’t be surprised if emotions crept in. “Maybe I will get emotional. If it happens, it happens.”
Since joining the Penguins, Skinner’s game has shown signs of stability. He’s currently rotating in net with Artūrs Šilovs and has posted a 2.34 goals-against average with a .902 save percentage, an improvement from his early-season numbers in Edmonton.
For Skinner, the focus now is forward, not backward. Whatever noise surrounded his exit from Edmonton, he’s made it clear he’s moved on.
