Jets sign Stuart Skinner to two-year contract
A notable move between the pipes in Manitoba.
On the opening day of NHL free agency on Wednesday, the Winnipeg Jets announced that the team has signed goaltender Stuart Skinner to a two-year contract. The deal carries an AAV of $3.75 million through the 2027-28 season.
STUUUUUUU 🗣️ We have signed goaltender Stuart Skinner to a two-year contract
Skinner is an eye-opening addition to the Jets, as there has been loads of speculation about the future of three-time Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck. While the Olympic gold medalist hasn’t formally announced a trade, his name has popped up in trade rumors in recent weeks, following a disappointing 2025-26 season. With Skinner, the Jets at least have assurance in goal if Hellebuyck were to be moved, or at least give the team a solid 1B netminder, something Hellebuyck has never had in his time in Winnipeg.
Skinner came to the end of his three-year contract extension, which he signed with the Edmonton Oilers in December 2022. That deal had an AAV of $2.6 million.
Since signing that contract, the Edmonton native has been one of the most talked about, dare I say, scrutinized netminders in the NHL. While many were critical of his play during the regular season, Skinner was able to turn his game on at the right time – the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He backstopped the Oilers to back-to-back finals, including Game 7 in 2024. However, the team came up short both times, losing to the Florida Panthers.
After a sluggish start this past season, Oilers general manager Stan Bowman elected that the time was appropriate to move on, trading Skinner to the Pittsburgh Penguins, with Tristan Jarry part of the return. The 27-year-old was good, but not great, with his new team. He went 12-9-5 with the Pens, posting a 2.99 goals-against average and a .885 save percentage. He helped the Penguins finish second in the Metropolitan Division. However, he lost all three starts in the first round of the postseason, as Pittsburgh was eliminated by the Philadelphia Flyers.
In total, Skinner went 23-17-9, with a 2.92 GAA, a .888 SV% and two shutouts.
In 224 games across six seasons in the NHL, Skinner has a career record of 121-71-23, with a 2.77 GAA, a .902 SV% and nine shutouts. He is 26-25 in the postseason, with a 2.89 GAA, a .892 SV% and four shutouts.