Wayne Gretzky Steeps High Praise On Oilers’ G Stuart Skinner

Wayne Gretzky was a guest during the second intermission of yesterday’s Sportsnet broadcast of the Oilers vs. the Florida Panthers game and he made some interesting comments about the current Oilers’ roster, specifically their goaltending. Saying he fully believes Jack Campbell will come around and the fans need to give him time, he also noted that backup goalie Stuart Skinner is ready and he hinted that he’s likely to be the Oilers’ goaltender of the future.

Gretzky has played with some of the NHL’s all-time great netminders. He knows talent when he sees it, and from what he’s seen of Stuart Skinner, not to mention what he’s been told by his brother Keith Gretzky, Skinner is the real deal.  Wayne noted that Keith continually called him the best AHL player for two seasons. That’s not just the best goaltender, but the best all-around player in the league. Keith is now the GM for the Bakersfield Condors and he’s seen how good Skinner is firsthand. He noted that the only reason it’s taken this long for Skinner to make a jump to the NHL is that there simply wasn’t room for him on the Oilers’ previous rosters.

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The Oilers have huge hopes for their rookie backstop and so far he’s outperformed any expectations of him. Gretzky said the Oilers see him as a big part of their future and he personally believes Skinner will be one of the top goalies in the league in short order. Wayne talked about Skinner’s struggles in past seasons — if you can even call them that with such a small sample size — and noted the lack of a secure spot on the roster didn’t help matters. Now that Skinner knows he’s staying put and is a part of the team’s plans all season, he’s more settled and more comfortable, and his confidence is growing. That’s a good thing because Jack Campbell’s confidence is at an all-time low.

Gretzky also said that Skinner’s strong play makes Campbell’s struggles a bit less of a concern. That Skinner is playing so well gives the Oilers a chance to take their time with their starter and get his head back in the right place. And, if Skinner keeps performing this well, it might not be long before he’s won the starting job.

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