Edmonton Oilers
Former Oiler Could Be Trade Candidate as Sharks Pursue Panarin
Could Jeff Skinner be traded by the San Jose Sharks as part of a Panarin deal and is the former Oilers stuck in a tough spot again?
San Jose Sharks beat writer Curtis Pashelka writes, “Veteran winger Jeff Skinner is facing some uncertainty with the Sharks getting healthy, as both Shakir Mukhamadullin and Kiefer Sherwood are close to a return. The Sharks only have one roster spot available at the moment.” In other words, Skinner could be the odd man out in San Jose, and a trade could be imminent.
In fact, Skinner could be part of a deal involving Artemi Panarin going to the Sharks, a team rumored to have reached out to the New York Rangers, and could include a Panarin extension.
Interestingly, Skinner has a full no-trade clause until Friday, January 30. After that, it becomes an eight-team list until the end of the season, when he’ll become an unrestricted free agent. The likelihood that Skinner waives to go to the Rangers seems high, assuming they can offer him playing time that he’s not getting with the Sharks.
A Tough Spot for Skinner to Be… Again
The former Edmonton Oiler might be feeling mixed emotions about his situation. He’s been keen to play postseason games and thought he would get that chance with the Oilers last season, for the first time in his NHL career. Instead, he found himself on the outside looking in, getting into only five total playoff games. Given that his NHL career began in 2010, that’s a long time without playoff hockey.
When he signed with the Sharks this summer, Skinner likely didn’t realize this team would be as competitive as it is. If he waives to go to the Rangers, he’s essentially giving up another chance at playoff hockey. The Rangers are selling because they are retooling. The Sharks are buying to make a playoff push.
He’s not likely to be flipped either. With a $3 million cap hit and only six goals and 13 points this season, he’s not going to be a popular trade option for contenders at the deadline. In fact, this might be his last shot at earning a contract for next season.
There is no guarantee that a Panarin deal to San Jose is happening, nor that Skinner would be involved. That said, it looks like the Sharks would like to move on from the veteran winger so they can do other things at the deadline.
Next: Oilers Scouts Watch Rangers as Trade Speculation Surfaces
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