Edmonton-born Skinner takes over Jets' net after Hellebuyck trade demand
Former Oiler Stuart Skinner is now expected to be Winnipeg's starting goaltender after Connor Hellebuyck requested a trade and was suspended for skipping training camp.
Why it matters
Skinner, an Edmonton-raised former Oiler, is now positioned as an NHL starting goaltender after a rocky exit from his hometown team.
Stuart Skinner, a 27-year-old goaltender from Edmonton, signed a two-year, US$7.5-million contract with the Winnipeg Jets on July 1 as free-agent insurance behind starter Connor Hellebuyck. That role changed abruptly when Hellebuyck went public with a trade request in late August and was suspended indefinitely for not reporting to camp, leaving Skinner as the Jets' likely starter with little experienced backup behind him.
Skinner was drafted by his hometown Edmonton Oilers in the third round of the 2017 NHL draft and helped the team reach back-to-back Stanley Cup finals in 2024 and 2025 before being traded to Pittsburgh last December, where he helped lift the Penguins into the playoffs. Over his career he has started 218 games with a 121-71-23 record, a 2.77 goals-against average and a .902 save percentage, compared to Hellebuyck's 345-208-55 record, 2.58 GAA and .916 save percentage over 11 seasons in Winnipeg.
In his first pre-season outing with Winnipeg, Skinner stopped 31 of 32 shots in a 3-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche, drawing chants from the home crowd and praise from teammates including centre Mark Scheifele. Skinner said he is prepared to handle a heavy workload as the Jets open their 2026-27 regular season Oct. 2 at home against the Boston Bruins.
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