NHL Rumors: Penguins Could Trade Stuart Skinner Again

Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Stuart Skinner makes a save during 2026 game.

The Pittsburgh Penguins may be sitting in a surprising playoff position, but that hasn’t stopped speculation from building around goaltender Stuart Skinner’s future. 

Despite stabilizing the crease since arriving in the Tristan Jarry deal, Daily Faceoff's Josh Yohe is questioning whether Skinner could be flipped again before the trade deadline as general manager Kyle Dubas continues to prioritize long-term roster planning.

Why Stuart Skinner Could Be Traded Again

The biggest factor driving the speculation is organizational depth. 

Pittsburgh suddenly finds itself loaded with young goaltending options, including Arturs Silovs, Sergei Murashov, and Joel Blomqvist, all of whom are either NHL-ready or trending that way. 

With Silovs expected to remain and the pipeline producing results, Skinner’s role may be more temporary than it appears.

Contract status adds another layer. The 27-year-old is a pending unrestricted free agent, making him a classic rental asset. 

Even though he has delivered solid results this season with a 19-12-5 record, a 2.69 goals-against average, and two shutouts across his time with Edmonton and Pittsburgh, Dubas could view this as the ideal moment to turn him into future assets rather than risk losing him for nothing.

Potential Landing Spots if Penguins Make a Move

If the Penguins do decide to move Skinner again, there should be no shortage of interest. Teams like the Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils, and Philadelphia Flyers have all dealt with inconsistency in net, although a divisional trade inside the Metropolitan may be less likely. 

Out west, the Vegas Golden Knights and Utah Mammoth are among the clubs that could use added depth.

Pittsburgh is currently pushing for the postseason, and trading its starting goalie during a playoff race would be a bold move. But Dubas has already shown this season that he’s willing to make unexpected decisions if they fit the bigger picture. 

With the trade tree from the Jarry deal already producing picks and roster pieces, Skinner could end up being the next branch moved if the right offer comes along.

Dubas essentially turned the Tristan Jarry and Sam Poulin trade into Stuart Skinner, Samuel Girard, a 2028-2nd round pick, and a 2029-2nd round pick. 

That's not a bad couple of pieces of work from Dubas.

Photo Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

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