The Edmonton Oilers are in a very familiar place. After two seasons of stumbling out of the gate in October, it’s more of the same to begin the 2025-26 season. They own a 6-6-4 record as of the morning of November 10th, 2025. They have been outscored 47-57 through 16 games.
Goaltending has been the subject of much ink and speculation. However, one insider is convinced that the results of this season have no impact on whether Stuart Skinner remains with the team or not. In fact, one way or another, he believes that Skinner won’t be back with the Oilers for the 2026-27 season.
NHL Insider Predicts the End of Stuart Skinner’s Tenure With the Edmonton Oilers
On the latest episode of the 32 Thoughts Podcast, the two hosts discussed the future of Skinner in Edmonton. Sportsnet’s Kyle Bukauskas is convinced that winning the Stanley Cup won’t guarantee that the homegrown netminder is kept around.
“The more I think about it, regardless of how this season ends up going,” Bukauskas said to his co-host Elliotte Friedman on the November 10th episode. “If it completely becomes something irreversable (or) if they go on to win the Stanley Cup, and anywhere in between there. I wonder if, no matter what, this is the last season Stuart Skinner’s in an Edmonton Oilers uniform.”
This would be news to a lot of people. GM Stan Bowman revealed his faith in the goaltending tandem at the beginning of the season. However, the high hopes of September have declined to borderline panic a month into the new year.
The problem with Skinner has always been his consistency, both in the playoffs and regular season. He’ll get pulled because he’s having a terrible series against one opponent, and then shut the door completely the following series.
Have the Oilers Already Made Their Mind up on Skinner?
Bukauskas said that it seems like the Oilers have already made their mind up on Skinner.
“It’s not me saying the guy can’t do a good enough job in goal, it just feels like…as if their mind is already made up,” Bukaukas said to Friedman. “It’s obviously a big year for the team, a big year for the goaltender himself. I just look at the totality of how it’s all gone, and as much as it’s a great story on paper, as the local guy drafted by Edmonton, developed by Edmonton, now playing goal for Edmonton, and had some wonderful moments along the way. Starting to wonder if, no matter what here, it’s going to be time.”
“Whether it’s at the end of the season, or sometime before that, it feels like we’re getting there.”
One recent name that’s been linked to the Oilers has been that of Juuse Saros. With the Nashville Predators floundering in October and November, their situation will certainly be one Oilers fans will keenly monitor.
Stuart Skinner, Calvin Pickard & the Future of the Oilers Crease
An important thing to note about the Oilers goaltending situation involves the contract status of their netminders. The Oilers have seven goaltenders in their organization signed to an entry-level contract or better. Of those seven, only three do not expire at the end of this season. That’s a lot of uncertainty in net.
The three goalies signed beyond this year are Samuel Jonsson, Nathaniel Day, and Matt Tomkins.
“I know his contract’s due,” Bukauskas explained. “This is the final year of his current deal. I just wonder. You have put that out there in the past with other situations with players and teams and the line, ‘sometimes it’s just time’.”
“I wonder if we’re getting to that point here with the goaltender and the team.”
Friedman responded in a vague way, like he was suggesting a trade might happen soon without saying those words.
“The roster will change over the next little while as players come back from injury,” Friedman said to his co-host. “We’ll see. They just look really ‘meh’.”
Another possibility that Friedman might be suggesting, is that the Oilers making a move among the forwards or defense will improve the team overall. While this is nice to think about, it’s simply not true.
Skinner vs Pickard
As far as goaltender performance is concerned, Skinner has been outperforming Pickard. Skinner has a superior win-loss record, goals against average (GAA), save percentage (SV%), and goals saved above expected (GSAx). If the Oilers are going to consider a goalie move, swapping Pickard out for another goalie who can serve as a 1B in a tandem should be the bare minimum requirement.
Needless to say, Bowman and the players have their work cut out for them.
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