It looks like holiday shopping came early this year. Specifically, the NHL trade deadline arrived a bit early since multiple teams made blockbuster moves on Friday, Dec. 12, to put the hockey world on notice. The Minnesota Wild and Vancouver Canucks made the biggest move of them all with the Quinn Hughes trade, while the Pittsburgh Penguins and Edmonton Oilers made a significant trade as well.
Focusing on the Tristan Jarry and Stuart Skinner move, it’s a fascinating one. The Edmonton Oilers are in Cup or bust mode, while the Penguins are a team on the rise, trying to add core pieces to their future as they compete now.
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The move wasn’t just Jarry to the Oilers in exchange for Skinner. The Oilers also received Sam Poulin and a second round pick, while the Penguins landed veteran defenseman Brett Kulak in the return.
The question is what this trade does for both teams. It answers a few questions for the Oilers but the Penguins don’t have a clear direction after the move, and certainly didn’t address any needs by making this trade.
Jarry Can Save Oilers in the Net
The story with Jarry is simple. When he’s on and seeing the puck well, he’s a top-of-the-league goaltender. He’s having a great season and has provided stability to the Penguins’ crease. The Oilers expect the same as they surge to the top of the Pacific Division. Jarry, when he’s healthy, is what the Oilers need.
That’s the first issue for Jarry and the Oilers. He’s not always healthy, and if there was one consistency to Skinner, it was his availability. It makes any fan wonder whether the Oilers upgraded at the position. The other reason to wonder whether this is an upgrade is that Skinner, for all his highs and lows, is better in the playoffs.
Skinner didn’t start every game in either of the deep playoff runs for the Oilers. However, he outdueled some of the league’s best when it mattered most. Jarry’s only started eight playoff games, and his most notable appearance came against the New York Islanders in the 2021 First Round. He struggled with the glove side shots and cost the Penguins the series.
It’s worth adding that the Oilers still have Calvin Pickard as their backup. Ideally, they have Skinner splitting starts but they had to move him to make the trade work. Now, all the pressure is on Jarry, who can save the season but lacks a backup and leaves the Oilers without a plan B.
Oilers Get Sneaky Add in Poulin
Many will see Poulin as the throw-in to this trade. It’s understandable since the 24-year-old forward has only played 15 games in the NHL while spending most of the past five seasons in the American Hockey League (AHL). At first glance, he’s not a notable player or helps the Oilers in any significant way.
He’s a sneaky add to this deal. Poulin was great with the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins and a key part of their offense. He scored nine goals and 11 assists as he drove the play on the wing, while also getting a call-up for two games to the NHL. There’s a good chance he makes the NHL team and, better yet, is a depth forward for the Oilers.
If Poulin works out, he can be a key bottom-six winger for the Oilers. He also changes the pace for the Oilers as he’s a younger player who skates well for a team that otherwise looked too old and slow. He’s not a prospect but he’s a young NHL-caliber player, which is what this team could use.
Skinner Doesn’t Address Penguins Goaltending Issue
The problem the Penguins have, in a season that is otherwise a pleasant surprise, is that they have too many goaltenders. It’s a good problem to have, and it gives the Penguins an edge on the trade market as they could move one to a contender for a haul.
With Arturs Silovs playing well, plus Sergei Murashov and Joel Blomqvist developing in the AHL and waiting in the wings for their chance, the Penguins saw Jarry as expendable. It’s why landing Skinner in the return is a shock. Murashov, in particular, looks ready for the NHL and can split starts with Silovs but instead, he’s still stuck in the AHL waiting for his chance.
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Presumably, the Penguins will roll with a Silovs-Skinner duo for the rest of this season. The good news is that if Skinner flops and struggles like he’s done in the past during the regular season, the Penguins can move on from him this summer. Their general manager (GM) Kyle Dubas, is betting against that.
Skinner’s Upside Can Make the Penguins The Winners
Goaltending is an unpredictable position, and a midseason trade can hit or miss. The one thing to keep in mind is that Skinner needed a change, and he gets it. The relationship with the Oilers had reached a breaking point this season, and he needed to go elsewhere. He gets another chance with the Penguins, where he can prove he’s an elite goaltender.
There are many scouts who like Skinner and the way he approaches the position. They see his upside and know there’s something special there. The Penguins are expecting him to find his footing, and they can benefit from it in the process, especially if he can be a cornerstone of their franchise after this season.
