Skinner & Pickard On The Clock With Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers could clean some things up in their game, but are currently over .500 and in a playoff spot. Things could be worse and they have been to start each of the last two seasons, but the team turned it around and has gone to back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals.
Goaltending has been the biggest issue with the Oilers and why many believe they haven't yet hoisted the Cup. On that, Ryan Richaug said, "They're going to let it ride here with Skinner for a little bit...If he's not capable of handling this, he won't be here, he will not be in net for game one of the playoffs...I think we all know that Skinner is on the clock here."
Stuart Skinner is a UFA after the season and has been on a solid contract with the Oilers for the workload he has taken on. Also in the last year of his deal is Calvin Pickard, as well as the third-string option, Connor Ingram. One thing the lack of term on the contracts means for the Oilers is flexibility. Neither Skinner nor Pickard makes much money and could be moved fairly easily as a cap dump or otherwise.
The Oilers are not going into the 2026 playoffs not confident in their goaltending, and so far, there is cause for concern. There is a little less so for Skinner, who is playing better than last season, but still not where Edmonton needs him to be. He needs a partner who can push him, and so far, Pickard has regressed and isn't doing that.
Pickard seems even more on the clock than Skinner, but the Oilers will have to find ways to clear out money if they are going to bring in a goalie that is worth it without getting very lucky. Skinner might not deserve the confidence the Oilers have placed in him, but the team has experienced plenty of goalies leaving, which comes back to bite them, including players like Cam Talbot, Anthony Stolarz, and Devan Dubnyk.
The Oilers can't sit back, and while it's tougher to make moves near the beginning of the season, it's not impossible and something has to give.
Photo credit: © Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
