Stuart Skinner Done With Penguins? NHL Future in Question?

At this point, there is no reason for the Pittsburgh Penguins not to ride the hot hand of Arturs Silovs the rest of the series against the Philadelphia Flyers. Pittsburgh went down 3-0, and after making a switch in goal — taking starter Stuart Skinner out — the Penguins have found new life.

---

This isn’t to say the lack of success was all on Skinner. However, his numbers weren’t good. Three losses and an .873 save percentage forced the Penguins to make a move and barring an injury or unforseen circumstance, they won’t go back.

That could mean the end of Skinner’s run in Pittsburgh.

The pending UFA had a small window in which to impress the Penguins and earn another contract this summer. It’s difficult to argue he’s done so.

This is not the first time Skinner has struggle this season either. His numbers in Edmonton were also abysmal. Many believed it was due to a lack of defense from the rest of the Oilers players, but now that Skinner has switched teams and his numbers have actually gotten worse, it will be fascinating to see who, if anyone, looks at him as a summer free agent and feels he can be a starter.

It’s understandable that the Penguins looked to Skinner to start the postseason. He entered the playoffs with 50 games of experience, having helped the Oilers reach two consecutive Stanley Cup Finals. However, he’s effectively lost his starting job twice now.

It’s certainly not an ideal situation for a goalie in a contract year.

Next: What Is Michkov’s Future in Philadelphia and Under Rick Tocchet?