Can the Jets rely on Stuart Skinner and Clay Stevenson?

The Winnipeg Jets are without three-time Vezina Trophy-winning goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who is sitting out of action after requesting a trade from the team that drafted him in 2012 after a disappointing 2025-26 season for both team and player.

Stuck in an unthinkably challenging situation, general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff landed Stuart Skinner in unrestricted free agency, at the time with the knowledge that he could either back up Hellebuyck or play a larger role.

That larger role came to fruition with Hellebuyck refusing to report, leaving an open spot behind skinner. The Washington Capitals waived Clay Stevenson, who had thrived in recent years in the AHL, and Winnipeg pounced on the opportunity.

Through three games, Skinner and Stevenson have performed quite well. The Jets own a 2-0-1 record, have an early lead atop the Central Division, and are sporting a team save percentage of .918, good for 10th in the NHL in the early going.

On Tuesday episode of Daily Faceoff Live, host Tyler Yaremchuk and co-host and former NHL goaltender Carter Hutton discussed whether or not the duo of Skinner and Stevenson can be solid enough to keep the Jets in the mix for a playoff spot, even if they can’t match Hellebuyck’s previous MVP-level form.

Tyler Yaremchuk: I wanted to ask you about the goaltending a little bit. I believe that was the sixth NHL start for Clay Stevenson, who they picked up on waivers from Washington. We are in the very early goings, but you kind of have that, I’m not afraid to call Stuart Skinner fairly dependable, if you will. He has a ton of NHL experience. Stevenson, the same age, comes with some amount of upside. What do you make of this tandem early on? Is it looking like a duo the Jets can trust?

Carter Hutton: Yeah, I honestly thin you can, too. Because you have a guy who’s been known for being a little Jekyll and Hyde in his career. You saw it first hand in Edmonton where he comes and goes, and then… Stevenson… There’s such a maturity factor that goes into taking your bumps and bruises in the AHL and kind of becoming who you are. Then you get that opportunity, and he’s ready, right? At times we expect guys to be so good so young, and I think we saw that on the other end with [Pittsburgh’s Sergei] Murashov, who’s 22, but with Stevenson, he’s coming right in. He’s insulated; he’s protected by Skinner. He’s coming into a good team. this might be the perfect fit for the Winnipeg Jets, where he can play a bigger role. I think at times we doubt guys because of the fact they don’t make it immediately, or if they aren’t a big-name guy, but growing into who you are as a goalie comes in that 27-range, 28, 29, and I think those are some prime years.

You can watch the full segment and the rest of the episode below…