On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
Stuart Skinner was pulled out of the Edmonton Oilers' loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday by the NHL's concussion spotters, and he has since voiced his frustration over the decision.
Skinner was pulled with less than five minutes left in regulation in a tied game, which put Calvin Pickard in the most difficult position possible.
Stuart Skinner voices frustration to NHL for pulling him out of game
Winnipeg Jets forward Gabriel Vilardi stumbled backwards softly into Stuart Skinner, a contact that didn't seem forceful enough to cause a serious injury.
Vilardi did bump Skinner's head and he fell back into the net, but it didn't seem enough to be concerned about a concussion. Nevertheless, concussion spotters made their decision by their protocol, and forced Skinner out of the net.
Skinner was visibly frustrated walking down the tunnel into the locker room, and Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch echoed the same frustrations when he spoke to media following the game.
Skinner met with media over the weekend and again said he felt there was no reason to pull him from the game, saying he felt entirely fine the entire time.
"I felt totally fine. I was just kind of shook up with the play. Obviously when you get knocked over, you got some adrenaline going so you just want to take a second. I took a second, got back up, totally fine.
"When that happens, I have no control over it. It is what it is. It is really tough, it is frustrating for sure. It's five minutes left, you're playing the best team in the league. Potentially going into overtime, and it puts Calvin in a really tough spot."
- Stuart Skinner
The game ended up going to overtime, and put Calvin Pickard in a tough spot, which did result in a loss. S
More must-reads:
- Oilers’ Forward Depth Must Show Up With McDavid & Draisaitl Out of the Lineup
- Oilers May Benefit From Having McDavid and Draisaitl Out
- The 'Stanley Cup-winning Edmonton Oilers' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
TODAY'S BEST
How will Sullivan set up the Rangers forward lines?
While a good deal of the Rangers core remains intact, there is a breath of new life surrounding the upcoming season. Looking to reload after a disappointing 2024–25, the Rangers turn to new coach Mike Sullivan to reconstruct the lineup. With a few new faces and a crop of young talent, Sullivan will have some options in his efforts to reinvigorate the team. Let’s take a closer look at some questions that will define the lineup. Who plays 3C? When it comes to the forward group, the biggest question might revolve around Mika Zibanejad. The Rangers tough season shone a particularly harsh light on Zibanejad’s individual totals, a decline that bemoans many Rangers faithful. Between his contract’s cap hits and clauses, getting a bounce back from Zibanejad seems necessary for the best version of this team. How to do so remains more of a mystery, as a growing contingent begins to contemplate a move to the wing. Vincent Trocheck’s strong chemistry with Artemi Panarin takes a top centre spot, as does J.T. Miller. This leaves Zibanejad with an apparent third-line role as a centre, where his production would hardly be optimized. A top-six winger role would seem flashier on paper, but would it make the team better? A look back at Sullivan’s Stanley Cup-winning rosters with the Pittsburgh Penguins reveals a belief in a strong top-nine forward group. Famously, star winger Phil Kessel helped power a dangerous third line. Perhaps this indicates how Sullivan might approach the situation. A strong centre group is always in vogue, and Zibanejad is a clear cut above other possibilities like Juuso Parssinen. Obviously, the decision will not be set in stone, but working out the rest of the forward group hinges on where to play Zibanejad. Outside of Igor Shesterkin’s hold on the crease, this centre group might be one of the defining strengths of the roster. Though none of Miller, Trocheck, or Zibanejad are thought of as Hart Trophy contenders, as a trio, they are impressive. They match up quite favourably against many top teams around the league. Perhaps playing to this roster’s strengths will require a focus on finding the right blend around their centres. Stepping up Thankfully for the Rangers, there are several young wingers pushing for more ice time. During the offseason, optimism is easy to come by, though in truth, younger players do not always trend positively. There are a number of players who might help fill out a top-nine, and wingers are often the least expensive to acquire if help is required in season. Alexis Lafreniere stalled last season after it seemed he had truly arrived in the 2023–24 playoffs. The Rangers owe it to themselves to move him into a top power play role, which will improve his baseline production rates and build confidence. The Rangers power play was well below league average last season, so clearly a jolt is needed. There are concerns, as last season saw a huge decline in his shot totals, to 153 from 217 the season prior. A spot alongside Miller might seem logical, giving the duo a chance to push Panarin and Trocheck in effectiveness. Meanwhile, Will Cuylle has become one of the Rangers best wingers, often sporting strong possession stats. Cuylle does a lot of hard work and finds shots from the net front. He will be a great help to whichever line he finds himself on, and could help highly skilled linemates convert their skills into offence. On merit, Cuylle deserves a chance in the top six, though he might be able to create a powerful tandem on the third line. In a copycat league, the cats are the meow of the moment, as the Florida Panthers use three separate forward duos to fill out their lineup. Line one has Sasha Barkov and Sam Reinhart, line two has Sam Bennett and Matthew Tkachuk, leaving Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen on line three. The Panthers rotate wingers in and out of each spot among these duos. The Rangers are able to throw together a reasonable comparable with Miller and Lafreniere on line one, Trocheck and Panarin on line two, and Cuylle and Zibanejad on line three. While Cuylle and Zibanejad are both worthy of spots in the top-six, a more well-rounded lineup is often more stout in the playoffs. Filling in It is fair to say that the top of the forward lineup presents these strengths, but the bottom of the Rangers roster will need to pull its weight to pay off the strategy. In this case, the Rangers would need players to step up into elevated roster positions. These players might be burdened with certain responsibilities to make space for their more skilled linemates. Brennan Othmann is particularly interesting here. The former first-round pick seems poised to become a full time NHLer, and has the tools to be a very functional player. His forechecking abilities will be a welcome addition to most lines. Brett Berard is smaller, but can bring similar elements. Both have some offensive qualities, but their path to more ice time lies in intensity and legwork. Taylor Raddysh brings some offence, but could be overtaken by rookie Gabe Perreault. Perreault is a huge x-factor for the Rangers, as he could add talent to the top six. At the same time, he likely needs an important offensive usage to be at his best, and the bar is high. Raddysh might be able to buy Perreault some time if he is not yet ready for an important role on a playoff hopeful. Juuso Parssinen and David Edstrom are entering their mid-20s, and both might be able to step into bigger roles with the team this season. Their spots in the roster are far from guaranteed, and their upside is seen as more limited. Still, Parssinen and Edstrom could provide a great deal of support if they are able to take a step over the summer. There will be competition from veterans like Sam Carrick and Jonny Brodzinski. Mock lines Let’s put all this together to make some potential forward lineups for next season. Naturally, there will be adjustments throughout the season as the power vacuum of a new coach unfolds. Loading up the top six Panarin—Trocheck—Zibanejad Cuylle—Miller—Lafreniere Othmann—Parssinen—Raddysh Edstrom—Brodzinski—Berard Zibanejad is insulated by high quality linemates, helping him rediscover higher offensive totals. Lafreniere gets a new place in the top-six, provided with a good deal of grit and skill. This should help Lafreniere play a more skilled game. Othmann and Parssinen might form a reasonable checking duo, given Raddysh here for some offensive credibility. The Rangers would have to lean heavily on their top players for this to work, as their bottom-six might be overmatched on a regular basis. If the bench is shortened while the team is trailing, it might make sense to load up in a similar fashion. This setup shields Perreault from being thrown into the lineup before his time. Three lines Perreault—Miller—Lafreniere Panarin—Trocheck—Othmann Cuylle—Zibanejad—Berard Edstrom—Parssinen—Raddysh Meanwhile, a reliance on rookies and going with Zibanejad at centre offers a much deeper look. There is no guarantee the ruling players can live up to such lofty roles, but at least they would have the support of stronger linemates. Perreault is given a good dose of skill and size to work with, while still having elite offensive talent on his line. Othmann can do a lot of important dirty work for Panarin and Trocheck, a jolt of youthful energy. Zibanejad and Cuylle can form a strong duo on both sides of the puck, and Berard given a chance to join in without much stress on his size. Even the fourth line looks strong here, showing how much of an impact growth for Perreault, Othmann, and Berard can have.
Justin Fields Called 'Biggest Loser' In Jets Training Camp
The New York Jets opted to cut Aaron Rodgers and sign Justin Fields to replace him during the offseason. This kind of commitment to Fields should bolster his confidence, but it could also place a lot of pressure on his shoulders. To this point, Fields has looked solid in training camp, aside from a scary toe injury that was quickly resolved in July. Justin Fried of the Jet Press recently reported that Fields' training camp may have reached a new low over the weekend as the young signal caller struggled. "Justin Fields put together his best practice of the summer to this point on Friday, completing his first 12 passes en route to an excellent all-around performance. The same can't be said about his showing on Saturday, however," Fried wrote. "Fields finished the day an abysmal 2-of-10 in the air, including a drop from rookie tight end Mason Taylor. "Some of his incompletions were catchable balls, but the Jets' passing game struggles on Saturday can largely be blamed on No. 7. Fields did flash his running ability with a 25-yard rushing score on the first play of red-zone drills, but the Jets would like to see more consistency in the air from the starting quarterback. Saturday's scrimmage was far from his best showing of the summer." Fields is a runner first at the NFL level, but his arm is nothing to scoff at. For most of training camp, his arm talent has been better than advertised, but during Saturday's scrimmage, it just wasn't there. A 2 for 10 performance is unacceptable for a $40 million quarterback who was signed to take over the team. The running game should open up the passing game for the Jets, which is going to need to be the case if Fields is going to struggle like this. However, it's just one day of camp. It's nothing to be too concerned about. Just because Fields lost this specific practice doesn't mean he's heading in the wrong direction as a whole.
Green Bay Packers: NFL Insider Reveals 1 Huge Improvement Jordan Love Has Made During Offseason
The Green Bay Packers have some lofty goals for the 2025 NFL season, the primary one being winning the Super Bowl. And while this should be the goal of every NFL team, it is especially true for the team that calls its home Titletown. Indeed, it has been 15 years since the Packers last won a Super Bowl, a draught that fans, players, and coaches are all too well aware of. Additionally, the team has laid a foundation, over the last two seasons, with Jordan Love as the starting quarterback with young playmakers around him that, hopefully, will help Green Bay take the next step back into serious contention. And, as is the case in the modern NFL, it all begins and ends with the quarterback position, and Love is raising eyebrows with one intangible that he has been working on improving for the last two years. ESPN Insider Impressed with How Jordan Love Is Leading the Green Bay Packers One of the things that head coach Matt LaFleur wanted Love to work on more, once he became the starter back in 2023, was becoming a more vocal leader. Love is not loud or boisterous by nature, so it was something that he had to make a conscious effort on which to work. And, at least to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Love has made some great strides in that department: “This is Jordan Love’s team. That was the case by default when he took over as the starter in 2023. But Love is much more comfortable as a leader in Year 3 as a starter. LaFleur has urged his quarterback to be vocal and he’s answering that challenge. ‘Night and day,’ coach Matt LaFleur told me. ‘Even from last year, and I thought he took a big jump last year. Way more presence. As the kids say, he’s got aura.’ “Love is not the most outspoken player by nature, but he’s worked on it and believes it’s going well. Late in 2023, the list of quarterbacks playing better than him was short. But last season, the Week 1 knee injury cost him momentum and mobility. He is back to moving well, and he’s got the best supporting cast in his three years as a starter.” Love has always had the respect of his teammates, and no one needs to look further than how the entire roster rallied around him when Green Bay traded Aaron Rodgers to make way for the 2020 first round pick to take over the offense. Now, Love is entering his third year as the starting quarterback, and his sixth NFL season overall. He knows the offense, he knows the players around him. He is leading, and the Packers will go as far as he can take them. Of course, it will be a team effort, but the quarterback is the most looked to player on the field, on the sidelines, and in the locker room. Love is setting the tone, and he wants to win a Super Bowl this year, saying that it is the team’s primary focus, even before winning the NFC North. Hopefully, his vision becomes reality.
Raiders' Spytek Makes Interesting Roster Moves
It's officially the first week of the NFL preseason, as the Las Vegas Raiders are set to take on the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night for a first glimpse of the team's new regime. However, general manager John Spytek continues to be active with the 90-man roster in training camp, making a couple of moves Sunday morning by adding two new pass-catchers to the Raiders' offense. Raiders sign free agent WR Kawaan Baker and TE Albert Okwuegbunam The Raiders announced they had signed two free agents, wide receiver Kawaan Baker and tight end Albert Okwuegbunam, adding more depth to both position groups ahead of Thursday night. In a corresponding move, TE Pat Conroy and WR Kyle Philips were waived from the 90-man roster. Okwuegbunam is the notable addition as a former well-regarded tight end prospect from the Missouri Tigers. He was a fourth-round selection by the Denver Broncos in the 2020 NFL Draft, spending three seasons with the team before he was traded in 2023 to the Philadelphia Eagles for a 2025 seventh-round choice. The former Missouri standout spent some time on the Indianapolis Colts practice squad before being released this past week. Okwuegbunam's best season was in 2022 when he caught 33 passes for 330 yards and two touchdowns. Baker was a former seventh-round pick by the New Orleans Saints out of South Alabama. The former Jaguars playmaker has spent time on four teams throughout his NFL career and played for the United Football League's San Antonio Brahmas before signing with the Raiders on Sunday. Baker was a productive college wide receiver, accumulating over 1,800 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns during his career. He capped his senior season with 51 catches, 659 yards, and eight touchdowns. Okwuegbunam is a late addition to training camp, joining a tight end room that features 2024 rookie sensation Brock Bowers and former Notre Dame standout Michael Mayer. Las Vegas signed former Carolina Panthers tight end Ian Thomas, who was a free agent signee this offseason, making the hill will be a tough one to climb for Okwuegbunam. Baker comes into the wide receiver corps with a group of young players fighting for a roster spot this month. The Raiders should have some of the most competitive battles in camp at receiver, and Baker has an opportunity to swoop in and make a name for himself. Find us on X (formerly Twitter) @HondoCarpenter and Instagram @HondoSr and weigh in on the Raiders latest addition to their roster. While here, check out our Facebook page WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE to discuss this take.
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
