The Winnipeg Jets are shoring up their goaltending depth. News emerged that the Jets have inked the Stuart Skinner contract with the veteran goalie. This contract is for two years and has a total value of $7.5 million per season. The deal has an average cap hit of $3.75 million per season and runs until the end of the 2027-28 campaign. News of the contract was first broken by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.
The Winnipeg Jets are signing Stuart Skinner to a two-year contract with a $3.75M AAV, per Darren Dreger.
Winnipeg Jets Sign Stuart Skinner Contract
Skinner has played for the Edmonton Oilers and the Pittsburgh Penguins across his six-year NHL career. The Edmonton native split time between the Oilers and Penguins last season where he logged a 23-17-9 record, 2.92 goals-against average (GAA) and .888 save percentage. Skinner took three losses in the Stanley Cup Playoffs before the Penguins turned to Arturs Silovs in Games 4,5, and 6.
The 27-year-old has a career mark of 121-71-23 record with a .902 save percentage and 2.77 GAA. Edmonton originally took Skinner in the third round, 78th overall of the 2017 NHL Draft. He finished runner-up in the Calder Trophy voting in the 2022-23 campaign behind Matty Beniers of the Seattle Kraken.
Skinner helped the Oilers reach the Stanley Cup Final twice. However, the Florida Panthers beat them both teams. He was dealt to the Penguins for Tristan Jarry last season.
(Credit Image: © Alex Cave/ZUMA Press Wire)
What It Means
Skinner seems like a good depth option in goal for the Jets. He can shoulder a load when he’s on. However, he’s been a very streaky netminder in his career. When he’s off his game, Skinner is really off his game.
This also will ramp up the speculation that Connor Hellebuyck could be on his way out the door. We speculated on this in NHL rumours, but this move could really raise some red flags. We’ll monitor the situation to see if Hellebuyck gets moved at some point this offseason.
Main photo by: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
