3 Reasons to Appreciate Stuart Skinner Beyond the Numbers

Stuart Skinner is one of those players who quietly makes a difference in ways that stats alone can’t capture. Some rankings peg him near the bottom third of NHL starters, but anyone watching him in key moments knows the story is far richer.

Here are three reasons why Edmonton Oilers fans should appreciate what Skinner brings to the ice.

Reason 1. Skinner Remains Poised Under Pressure

Skinner has faced high-pressure situations that few goalies experience so early in their careers. He stepped into a struggling Oilers team, carried them through a 2-9-1 hole, navigated a coaching change, and guided the team all the way to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final—not once, but twice.

That’s a level of composure that can’t be measured by save percentage or goals-against average. In the playoffs, every decision, every split-second read matters, and Skinner consistently rises to the occasion.

Reason 2. Skinner Gives the Oilers Smart, Complete Goaltending

Metrics tell part of the story, but they can’t capture Skinner’s hockey intelligence. He reads plays ahead of the puck, tracks traffic through the crease, handles the puck confidently, and rebounds mentally after tough goals. He knows when to challenge, when to trust positioning, and when to rely on reflex.

That kind of calm, smart play under stress is what separates a good NHL starter from an elite one—and it’s exactly what Skinner delivers, shift after shift, in the moments that matter most.

Reason 3. Skinners’ Stats Don’t Show the Context and His Clutch Performances

Numbers alone don’t tell the whole story. Skinner has outlasted and performed on par with highly ranked peers—Shesterkin, Swayman, Hellebuyck, Saros—through playoff battles and critical games. History reminds us that even the greatest goaltenders, from Grant Fuhr to Billy Smith, wouldn’t pass today’s purely statistical filters, yet they won Stanley Cups and dominated under pressure.

Skinner is building that kind of resume today: he wins when it counts, absorbs chaos, and elevates his team in ways raw stats can’t measure.