Oilers GM Stan Bowman Just Got Schooled by Kyle Dubas

Say what you want about former Toronto Maple Leafs and current Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas, but in this case, he absolutely pulled one off. The Edmonton Oilers thought they were getting Tristan Jarry, a supposedly high-upside goalie to solve their crease woes, but this deal is going to go down as one of the worst in Oilers’ history.

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That includes the way this deal was structured. It’s bordering on ludicrous from the Oilers’ perspective. No retained salary, giving up Stuart Skinner, Brett Kulak, and a second-round pick all to chase a mirage. Not too long ago, Jarry was a healthy scratch for the Penguins. Yet, Dubas made the Oilers pay full freight for the illusion of improvement.

The Skinner for Jarry Trade Is a Masterclass in Mismanagement

This isn’t just a bad trade. This is a masterclass in franchise mismanagement. Skinner wasn’t just some lottery-ticket prospect; he was a solid goalie, already proven capable of carrying a team in stretches, signed for years, and quietly growing into the type of goalie Edmonton desperately needs.

And Kulak? He was a solid, reliable defenseman who played a quiet game (in a good way, because no one notices it when a blueliner plays simple, effective hockey). Now, suddenly, he’s gone to make the numbers work. All for what? To make Jarry “fit” under the cap. That’s not hockey management; that’s smoke and mirrors.

This Trade Will Be Worse Than What the Oilers Have Done Before

History has a way of echoing loudly. Take Bill Ranford, for example. Almost 30 years ago now, in January 1996, the Oilers traded a goalie who had won a Stanley Cup and a Conn Smythe for pieces that never came close to replacing him. At least, by then, Ranford’s career was starting to wind down, and they got a first-round pick. That’s at least something.

Skinner? He was on the upswing, signed for years, and now shipped for a guy who spent last year in the AHL and has been excellent for just 14 games. The upside is there, sure—but the risk is massive, and the cost to the franchise is far higher.

By the Way, Where’s Jack Campbell Now?

It pauses me to remember the Oilers’ signing of Jack Campbell to a massive contract after a hot streak in Toronto, only to fade into mediocrity. Now, Edmonton seems to be walking down the same path: trading proven talent for a gamble with an iffy upside, with no safety net, and a salary hit that forced them to gut their depth.

And if you think the problem was Skinner, you’re not watching Evan Bouchard cough up the puck to Tage Thompson or the systemic lapses that left his goalie exposed. The Oilers’ defence is porous (now even worse with Kulak leaving), the money is stretched, and the optics are brutal. [The Oilers moved out two young guys who were playing in the city where they were born and wanted to be.]

This deal doesn’t just fail on paper; it fails in context, leaving the Oilers worse off and at least a few fans wondering how long it will take for this mistake to fully reveal itself.

Dubas Has Made the Oilers’ Management Look Silly

Dubas, in one swoop, made Edmonton look like amateurs. I’m sure Stan Bowman has convinced himself he’s solving a problem. Still, the collateral damage—losing Skinner, losing Kulak, and giving Jarry a starting job without really looking at his history? This move could haunt this franchise for years. It’s reckless and the kind of trade that goes down in history as a bad example.

The Oilers might hope it works, but history—and common sense—says otherwise. As an Oilers fan, I hope I’m totally wrong.

Related: Trade Grades: Oilers Land Tristan Jarry and Spencer Stastney