Last summer was a busy one for Edmonton Oilers CEO of hockey operations Jeff Jackson. More specifically, a busy July 1. Fresh off a heartbreaking loss in the Stanley Cup Final and the departure of general manager Ken Holland, the Oilers needed a quick retool in free agency before getting back into action. Among the flurry of deals made that day, was a one-year, $3 million deal signed by former Buffalo Sabre Jeff Skinner.
Good To Bad Fast for Edmonton
Oilers fans loved the deal when it was signed and were fantasizing about all the different line combinations that could be built with this skilled veteran they stole off the market. However, since the season got into full swing, that attitude has shifted.
Related: Edmonton Oilers’ Streaky Play Won’t Be Helped by Trade Deadline Moves
Despite tallying 11 goals and 21 points in his 51 games played, Skinner continues to be one of the centres of criticism when it comes to the Oilers depth. While 11 goals at this point in the season may not seem like a lot, it’s still good enough for sixth-best on the team. Regardless of the argument for or against him, the consensus is Skinner has not performed up to the standards that Edmonton expected him to. It has showed in the repeated healthy scratches from head coach Kris Knoblauch in favour of other players with fewer points. Skinner does have a no-movement clause, however, he may consider waiving it if things continue trending in this direction.
The media in Edmonton continues to scrutinize him as well.
The decision to sign Jeff Skinner instead of offering Dylan Holloway $2m looks worse by the day. Skinner's lack of size and speed do not fit in EDM and won't down the stretch. Bowman didn't make that decision, but it is now his problem to fix.
— Jason Gregor (@JasonGregor) February 26, 2025
With Edmonton in need of some upgrades at the 2025 Trade Deadline and Skinner potentially looking for a fresh start, here are three options Edmonton could explore with the two-time All-Star.
Nowhere Fresher: Seattle Kraken
What better way to get a fresh start than to go to the newest franchise in the NHL? The Kraken need a fire sale to begin a rebuild and are likely willing to deal the Oilers anyone they want for the right price. Although Skinner would only be a piece to even out the salary in a deal like this, it would present a great opportunity.
Joining a team like the Kraken who may want to rebuild the ground up gives a veteran like Skinner a chance to play with young and hungry players who want to prove themselves. He would be a leader in the locker room, as well as a reliable option that has already proven himself in the league. Additionally, Seattle is a much tamer media market. This would allow him to thrive without constant questions and criticism about his play. While an older player like Skinner may prefer to go to a contending team, something like this might almost be better for him to raise his stock and become a valuable trade piece for Seattle.
Player for Player Swap: Montreal Canadiens
A move back into the Eastern Time Zone may be just what the doctor ordered for Skinner. He scored 30 goals multiple times, won the Calder, and went to multiple All-Star games playing out east. Of course, that was in Carolina and Buffalo. Montreal is a much different market, with media that is comparable to Edmonton’s in terms of toughness. The Habs do have some attractive qualities, one of them being that they’re perfect trade option for the Oilers.
Jake Evans is on pace to shatter his career-high in points this season. He has been a vital piece of Montreal’s bottom-six and is one of the main reasons they have stayed close in the playoff race for so long. However, the Habs are in a crowded Eastern Conference and aren’t making up much ground on the final wild-card spot. If they can sell high on a two-way player like Evans now, it would be good for their future. A trade would likely be something like sending Skinner and one or two mid-round picks to Montreal for Evans. It would really just depend on how much both sides value their respective players and settling on picks.
This would work out great for both sides. Evans would get a chance to compete for a championship while having a career-best year, while Skinner would get a reset with a young team that is a year or two away from contention.
Reload the Forwards: Colorado Avalanche
This one is easy to figure out. The Avalanche recently shipped out star forward Mikko Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes and while they may have picked up a couple forwards in return, they are still looking a bit light in the offensive category. They may not play like it or look like it, but the Rantanen-sized hole will eventually show itself unless they add more talent. Enter Skinner.
A deal like this could be done a couple different ways. It could be done in the form of a ‘cap-dump’ deal where Edmonton simply sends Skinner in exchange for a pick. Depending on Colorado’s stance on Skinner and his cap hit, they may not go for a deal like that. The other way to go about it would be to exchange players of equal value. The Avalanche have a very strong roster, so the Oilers would have a few options here. Whether they would want to go the prospect route or for salary-friendly bottom-six help is the big question. Regardless, this would be a good move for Skinner. He would get a change of scenery and get to assist a playoff contender in making its way to the promise land, something he has never done in his career.
Whether the Oilers make a deal involving Skinner is yet to be seen, but change needs to be made for his sake. The 32-year-old winger deserves a chance to play.
