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Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner admitted he was disappointed not to be selected for the 4 Nations Team Canada roster but was honest about being cut. While some fans are defending his honor, especially after he showed up Jordan Binnington on Saturday in a win by the Oilers over the St. Louis Blues, Skinner acknowledged that Binnington deserved the spot. “He beat me out for a reason,” Skinner said. “He’s a hell of a goalie.”
The sad truth is, all three of Binnington (St. Louis Blues), Adin Hill ( Vegas Golden Knights), and Sam Montembeault (Montreal Canadiens) had as much of a case for selection, if not more, than Skinner did. Perceptions may change over the next few weeks, but unless there’s an injury, it’s too little, too late.
"I got bodied pretty good. I've been getting hit a lot this year. That's like the fourth body check I've gotten. First call, though."
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) December 8, 2024
Stuart Skinner on Radek Faksa's hit on him that resulted in an #Oilers power-play goal. @Enterprise | #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/oHTD3qPJ2z
After his inconsistent start to the season, Skinner understood Team Canada’s decision. Despite being considered for the roster following his strong performance in last year’s Stanley Cup Final, the way his season started, and how the Oilers got out of the gate a little slow this season, he gets it. Sometimes, it’s about recency bias, and Skinner, until really recently, hadn’t given Team Canada much to feel confident about.
Skinner’s game is coming around, much like it did last season. So, instead of dwelling on the setback, he is focused on the Oilers and finding positives in the situation. And, one never knows if an opportunity will arise, should a goaltender get injured between now and the tournament.
Skinner Is Coming on Strong For Oilers
While he’d likely jump at the chance to play if asked, Skinner called it a “blessing in disguise,” noting that he’ll now have the chance to be present for his newborn child in early 2025—a moment he missed with his first child due to hockey commitments. So too, the missed opportunity gives Skinner more time to focus on his game and be the best version of himself he can be for the Oilers.
While he admitted his season hasn’t been up to par, he’s determined to use the snub as motivation to elevate his game. And, while fans might complain with every excellent performance that Skinner should have been selected, the Oilers won’t mind.
With a cap-friendly salary of $2.4 million, Skinner has rarely been given the credit he deserves. If he can improve his save percentage over the next few games, it may become clear that Team Canada made a mistake. That mistake will be to the benefit of the Oilers.
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