Edmonton Oilers

One Month Later: How the Oilers’ Goalie Gamble Is Really Playing Out

One month after the Skinner–Jarry trade, Edmonton’s net is settled—but health, defence, and consistency still hold the final word.

by
Old Prof
January 18, 2026

At some point, the Edmonton Oilers had to make a move. Stuart Skinner had been a steady hand in some of the club’s most pressure-packed games, yet the whispers never stopped: he wasn’t “the guy” in Edmonton. And let’s face it, goalie life in this town has always been unforgiving. Skinner wasn’t just playing the puck—he was playing the noise, the expectations, and the nightly sense that one soft goal could tilt the conversation entirely.

Skinner moved to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Coming back to the Oilers was Tristan Jarry. A month later, we still don’t have all the answers. The real story here isn’t the numbers—it’s whether Jarry stays healthy. When he’s on the ice and feeling good, he can handle the shaky defence. When he’s dinged up or tentative, things get risky fast.

Reason One: Jarry’s Early Glimpses Show Potential (Grade: B+)

The good news is encouraging. In two games since returning from injury, Jarry has faced 58 shots and stopped 54, including a 6–0 shutout over the Canucks. This is what Edmonton hoped for—a goalie who can swing the momentum and make life easier for the stars. Nineteen games in, he’s 13-3-2 with a .909 save percentage. On paper, he’s keeping things steady.

Tristan Jarry Oilers media — Tristan Jarry is playing well for the Oilers when he’s healthy.

But the grade here isn’t an A yet. That B+ reflects promise, flashes of brilliance, and the fact that the health question looms large. Edmonton needs Jarry to remain available, confident, and consistent for this trade to work to its full potential.

Reason Two: Skinner Remains a Reminder of What Was Lost (Grade: A-)

Meanwhile, Skinner has shown that the Oilers might have been able to ride him longer than management thought. In his last five starts with the Penguins, he’s 4-1-0 with a 2.42 GAA and .901 save percentage. He’s finding his game again. Now the question is whether he could have steadied Edmonton with a stronger defence in front of him.

The A- grade here reflects the reality: Skinner has proven he’s resilient and capable, and watching him thrive elsewhere gives the Oilers pause. They may have simply swapped one volatile hand for another.

Stuart Skinner Penguins — Stuart Skinner has been on a winning streak with the Penguins.

Reason Three: The Defence in Front Still Matters (Grade: C)

Perhaps the biggest takeaway is that Jarry’s success is inseparable from the support in front of him. Brett Kulak was a stabilizing presence on the back end, and moving him in the trade puts extra strain on the remaining defenders. The blue line is thinner, less reliable, and that makes any netminder’s job far more complicated. Even a healthy Jarry isn’t magical. On this front, Edmonton still has work to do—a C grade, for the record, because right now the defence is the weak link in the equation.

The Bottom Line for the Oilers

A month after the Skinner–Jarry swap, the trade can’t be judged in black and white. Jarry’s flashes of brilliance show the upside (B+). Skinner’s shown what Edmonton gave up (A-), but the defence in front? Still a question mark (C). The bigger point: in Edmonton, a goalie isn’t just numbers—it’s staying healthy, confident, and handling the nightly pressure.

For now, Edmonton has a new name in net, but the challenge remains the same. Tristan Jarry’s health is the key. If he stays strong, the B+ could climb to an A. If not, the Oilers may be wishing they still had Skinner in the crease.