The Pittsburgh Penguins made a significant trade on Friday, one that flew under the radar. If it hadn’t been for the Quinn Hughes blockbuster, the talk of the weekend would have been the Stuart Skinner-Tristan Jarry deal with the Edmonton Oilers.
Be that as it may, the Penguins hardly look done wheeling and dealing. The Skinner-Jarry deal could be the first blast to signal the opening of an intense NHL trade season.
The forthcoming wheeling and dealing could lead Skinner and fellow addition Brett Kulak out of Pittsburgh. As insider Elliotte Friedman pointed out, the Penguins will need to decide if they want to keep or deal Skinner and Kulak.
Friedman stated the following on NHL’s First Shift on December 12:
“I have no doubt that Kyle Dubas’ phone will be ringing, what are you doing with Stuart Skinner, what are you doing with Brett Kulak, what are you thinking here; does he want to keep them, does he want to flip them.”
The odds are that Kyle Dubas flips at least one of them. Skinner would be the most immediate piece the Penguins could find easy to move. Chatter suggests that several teams could be on the prowl for available goalies. For instance, the Montreal Canadiens, St. Louis Blues, and even the Carolina Hurricanes could be looking for a reliable option in the crease.
So, why would the Penguins hold on to an impending UFA like Skinner? The Pens seem content to roll with a tandem of Arturs Silovs and Joel Blomqvist. Plus, Sergei Murashov looks like a future NHL-caliber netminder.
Under such circumstances, the Penguins don’t need Skinner. If the former Oilers netminder can bring in a decent haul, Pittsburgh would be foolish to pass on a trade.
Penguins Looking for Futures amid Rebuild
The Penguins are in the midst of a rebuild, even with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin on the roster. While the Pens have surpassed expectations this season, the fact is that GM Kyle Dubas’ focus is on futures.
With that in mind, would it make sense to hold onto Stuart Skinner? For that matter, would a blueliner like Brett Kulak offer more value on the team than as trade bait?
Unless Dubas feels that Skinner and Kulak could be key pieces in a quick Penguins’ retool, they’re better off as trade chips. Both former Oilers are impending UFAs. That’s why the smart money would be on moving them now, potentially fleecing a desperate team.
Could Skinner Stick in Pittsburgh after All?
There’s always the possibility that Stuart Skinner may stick with the Penguins after all. He’s a solid goaltender. Getting away from the bright lights of the Edmonton fishbowl could help him rebound.
Plus, the rebuilding Pens could offer a zero-pressure environment. A tandem of Skinner and Silovs may not be the worst thing in the world. As such, there may be a chance that the Penguins keep Skinner after all.
That prospect seems unlikely given the current state of the goalie market. But things can change in a heartbeat. So, NHL fans shouldn’t be surprised to find the Penguins and Skinner becoming an unlikely partnership.
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