5 Potential Free Agent Destinations for Stuart Skinner

When the Edmonton Oilers traded Stuart Skinner to the Pittsburgh Penguins, it didn’t come as a shock to most fans. Skinner needed a fresh start, and the Oilers wanted someone new between the pipes. While fans continue to debate how good the deal was for both teams, one question lingered in the back of some people’s minds.

Is there a future with the Penguins for Skinner?

The Penguins have Arturs Silovs and Sergei Murashov on their roster, and that is expected to be their tandem heading into the 2026-27 season. With that in mind, where else could Skinner sign?

Let’s take a look at five potential destinations for Skinner in free agency this offseason.

Pittsburgh Penguins

There is always a chance Skinner returns to the Penguins, since he could be comfortable there and could be willing to take a pay cut to stay with the team that took a chance on him when the Oilers were finished with him.

I would assume this is unlikely, but possible, but it will depend entirely on whether the Penguins believe Murashov is ready to make the jump to the NHL. If they think he needs another season in the American Hockey League (AHL), Skinner could come back on a one-year contract to play with Silovs.

Murashov, who is 22 years old, has played five games in the NHL, posting a 2.56 goals-against-average (GAA), a .897 save percentage (SV%), with a shutout in his only win. In the AHL, he posted a .919 SV% and a 2.20 GAA through 38 games, winning 24 of them, posting four shutouts.

Edmonton Oilers

There is an elephant in the room; let’s address it.

The Oilers need a goaltender, again, so why not consider a reunion?

The Oilers are expected to make some changes to their goaltending depth this offseason, and with Tristan Jarry expected to return next season, the Oilers have a decision to make as to who else will be between the pipes.

Connor Ingram performed well alongside Jarry and could still be the goalie they end up signing and running with next season, but there is a world where they consider a reunion with Skinner.

Whether Skinner would want to return to the Oilers is another story, but this isn’t out of the realm of possibility, and it wouldn’t be shocking if the two sides spoke this offseason.

Ottawa Senators

The Ottawa Senators could look to add some goaltending depth. They have Linus Ullmark, who has loosely been involved in trade speculation, but there is no real indication he’ll be moved.

Bringing in Skinner to play as their backup solidifies their depth and gives them a trustworthy option if Ullmark goes down.

James Reimer is an aging veteran that they will likely move on from, and Skinner is a slight upgrade on Leevi Merilainen, so for the right price, why not run a tandem of Ullmark and Skinner?

Anaheim Ducks

The Anaheim Ducks shocked the Oilers and moved on to the second round, taking them down in six games, and while Ville Husso played well in relief of Lukas Dostal when they pulled him, they could benefit from a stronger backup.

Skinner is an upgrade and adds organizational depth for the Ducks. For the right price, Skinner could be a strong backup that steps in when needed, and with a similar role to what he had with the Penguins, there is potential that he could be one half of one of the league’s strongest tandems.

Nashville Predators

Similar to the Ducks’ situation, Skinner could be a strong backup for Saros.

Both the Ducks and Predators could benefit from having strong depth between the pipes, but signing Skinner could come down to two things. First, is he willing to be a full-time backup goaltender to a proven starter? Two, is he willing to take a team-friendly contract to play a lesser role than what he played with the Oilers?

The Predators want to contend, so solidifying their goaltending depth could be a step in the right direction in hopes of making the playoffs next season, and Skinner allows them to do that.

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