Former NHL goalie Devan Dubnyk is impressed by Edmonton Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner.
Dubnyk played in the NHL from 2009 until 2021, as he was selected 14th overall by the Oilers in 2004. He has seen the pressure of being the starting goalie in Edmonton, and he says Skinner has done a ‘really impressive job’ of being the starting goalie.
“He’s dealing with pressures that nobody else is dealing with,” Dubnyk told The Big Show. “That’s part of the territory that you deal with in playing for a Canadian market. He’s done a really, really impressive job of handling it.”
Dubnyk believes Skinner was thrown into the deep end and into the fire, and he has done a good job handling all the pressure at such a young age. The former NHL goalie also wants to remind everyone that Skinner is only 26.
“Skinner’s got more playoff experience than three-quarters of the league is ever going to have,” said Dubnyk. “We forget that he’s a young goalie. It feels like he’s been there a long time. But he’s only 26 years old and should be entering the peak years of his career right now.”
Skinner has started 168 NHL games and has also started 50 playoff games. So, despite him being inconsistent at times, Dubnyk has full confidence that Skinner will be a good starting goalie in the NHL for years to come.
Dubnyk Impressed With Skinner During Oilers’ Playoff Run
Despite Skinner being pulled and even benched during the Oilers’ playoff run, Dubnyk was impressed with what he saw from the goalie.
After Calvin Pickard replaced him in net, Pickard got hurt, which meant Skinner had to go back in the net. Dubynk says that the spot for a goalie is tough. But, he was impressed with how well Skinner did in the net and how he handled it all mentally.
“Do you know how easy it would have been to fold the tent there?” Dubnyk said. “The amount of pressure that was going into the next game and he pulls back-to-back shutouts. Like that is an impressive feat, because that was such an impossible scenario to come in with Pickard being the local hero.”
Skinner ended up being stellar as he allowed 5 goals in 4 games against the Dallas Stars – after allowing 5 in his first game back – to propel the Oilers back to the Cup Final.
Skinner ended up going 7-7 with a 2.99 GAA and a .889 SV% in the playoffs.
Dubnyk Expects Oilers to Add a Goalie
Despite Dubnyk being impressed with Skinner, he does think the Oilers should add another goalie.
Although Dubnyk is a fan of Pickard, he believes Skinner and Edmonton would be better off if there was someone better to push Skinner.
“I think they’ll do something to upgrade the goaltending,” he said. “I hate saying that because I love Picks. If that’s the case, I hope he goes somewhere we he can play. I wouldn’t be surprised early on if Edmonton can get someone who can push Skinner.”
If Edmonton does acquire another goalie, Dubnyk expects Pickard to be traded as he thinks he deserves to be an NHL goalie.
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