Stuart Skinner is poised for a breakout year

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Finnegan Frost
September 27, 2024 (1:28 PM)

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As we await the debut of the highly anticipated regular season, Stuart Skinner is looking for a redemption.

After taking the team all the way to game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals last season, Stuart Skiner will be the first person to tell you there's things he could have done differently. Although the Oilers net minder had a respectable season between the pipes, he's hoping for bigger results come puck drop in October.

According to daily faceoff, Skinner's save percentages by month last year: .863, .888, .915, .953, .887, .917, .893. By playoff round: .910, .833, .922, 909. The human roulette wheel may be the game's least consistent starting goalie. That said: he was still good enough, most of the time, to help Edmonton reach Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final.

When he's on his game, he's quite good. Pickard was also pretty solid behind him last season, going 12-7-1 with a .909 SV%. So while I don't consider goaltending a feature for Edmonton, it's not a bug, either. It can't be if it was good enough to get you within one victory of a championship

In addition to his big expectations this season, Skinner has emerged as one of the favourites to represent team Canada ahead of the 4 Nations Cup.

Although its just preseason, Skinner will be looking for a major bounce back performance when the Oilers take on the Seattle Kraken tomorrow night. Skinner got his first taste of preseason action against the Winnipeg Jets, but struggled to shake the rust off. In just two periods, Skinner let in 4 goals and posted a .87 SP.

Hopefully Skinner will settle in, and take his Stanley Cup final confidence into the 2024-25 NHL season.

source: Daily Faceoff
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