Athletic reporter Allan Mitchell indicated that there is a good chance the Oilers will look to upgrade in goal ahead of this year's trade deadline. He suggests that Stuart Skinner may be on the way out in favor of someone with a little more pedigree.
The proposal includes Stuart Skinner being sent to Winnipeg as part of a package that would see star goalie Connor Hellebuyck going to Edmonton. While the Jets have expressed a desire to re-sign their goalie, Hellebuyck is on an expiring contract and he has expressed a desire to find more playoff success before his career comes to an end. Based on current roster construction, it would seem that Edmonton's chances of bringing Lord Stanley's Cup back to Canada are a lot better than Winnipeg's at least for the next five years or so.
Does Moving Skinner Make Sense?
Skinner is one of the better young goalies in the league right now, coming off a season in which he was a finalist for the Calder trophy. That being said, we have seen other goalies come into the league and find immediate success only to struggle to replicate their success in later years. Hellebuyck is a well known commodity and is respected as one of the best goalies of his generation. Could Skinner be as good as him three years from now? Perhaps, but from the Oiler's perspective, why should they take that chance if they know they can get one of the league's best right now?
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