Why Stuart Skinner Could Actually Be Really Good in Winnipeg

A lot of people sort of wrote Stuart Skinner off after Edmonton. But I don’t think that’s fair — and I think Winnipeg might be exactly the spot where he proves people wrong.

Here’s the thing about Skinner in Edmonton: he had real stretches of good goaltending. He was legitimately a big part of them making the playoffs. In fact, Edmonton didn’t just make the playoffs during Skinner’s tenure; they went deep into the playoffs. Even though, to be honest, the Oilers’ defence in front of him was less than helpful. It made his job way harder than it needed to be. There’s still a good NHL goalie in there — the question was always whether he’d get put in a situation that let that show.

The Jets Defence Is Stronger Than the Oilers Was for Skinner

Enter Winnipeg. Their D-corps is just a different animal defensively than what Edmonton was running out there. Look at the pieces: Dylan DeMelo’s a legit defensive defenseman. Josh Morrissey’s been building chemistry with him for years now. Neal Pionk’s the same story: he missed a bunch of games, but when he’s right, he moves the puck well, defends well, and can shoot it too.

And don’t sleep on Mario Ferraro. He might be one of the most underrated signings of the whole offseason. He’s not making too much money and is playing a 5/6 role, but I think he’ll be way more effective than people are giving him credit for.

Then there’s Elias Salomonsson, who they need to get healthy. The progression last year was real, and the upside is legit. And who knows —maybe Logan Stanley comes back into the fold too; the culture fit is obviously there.

The Real Key for Skinner in Winnipeg Is the Defensive System

But the real key isn’t even the talent; it’s the system. If Winnipeg can defend better in front of Skinner and make things more predictable for him, that’s basically all a goalie wants. Nobody’s asking to face fewer shots. They just want it to make sense out there.

I have to admit that I’m a Stuart Skinner fan. And I think there’s a chance he’ll show something this year that makes the rest of the league see that he was good all along. He won’t stick out like a sore thumb. He’ll be a guy nobody’s talking about much, which is exactly what you want from your goalie.

Related: NHL Trade Talk Recap: Oilers, Maple Leafs & Blue Jackets Issue