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Unsustainable Tension Led Oilers and Skinner Into Inevitable Trade

Originally posted on NHL Trade Talk | Last updated Dec 14, 2025 12:43 PM ET

Following the trade that sent Stuart Skinner and Brett Kulak to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Tristan Jarry, it’s clear the Edmonton Oilers were ready for a change. What’s coming to light is that the Oilers were aware they wanted to make a change some time ago and, according to Elliotte Friedman, everyone involved — including Stuart Skinner — knew it.

Speaking with Ron McLean, Friedman explained that while Skinner was actually on a solid stretch of play at the time of the trade, the overall situation had become unsustainable in Edmonton. The moment Skinner had a rough game or showed any signs of inconsistency, long-standing doubts resurfaced almost immediately. The vibes in the locker room were often tense, and the stress levels were quite high, despite the outward appearances everyone was letting on.

Friedman noted the pressure was weighing heavily on Skinner himself, the coaching staff, and the organization as a whole. It’s almost as if everyone in that organization knew the bubble was going to burst, it was just a matter of when.

“It was weighing on Skinner. It was weighing on the team. It was weighing on the organization,” Friedman said. “I think everybody here felt it was just time. And I think ultimately, Stuart Skinner would probably agree it was just time.”

The simple fact was that Edmonton would have kept Skinner as part of a tandem, but they weren’t comfortable with him being “the guy”. They needed more stability, and ultimately, it came down to choosing to keep him as the starter or move him, not make him a 1A.

In the end, they chose to make the switch to Jarry.

Jarry Wanted to Come To Edmonton and Be The Guy

Friedman noted that one of the things the Oilers liked so much about moving forward with Tristan Jarry — who made his debut with Edmonton against the Toronto Maple Leafs with a win — was that Jarry had made it clear behind the scenes that he wanted to be an Oiler.

Jarry has strong ties to the area, owning a place outside Edmonton, returning there in the summer, and having played junior hockey in the region. To GM Stan Bowman and the rest of the management teams, those connections mattered. The Oilers are hitching their wagon to Jarry for the next three seasons. They want to know this is someone ready to battle and face the challenge head-on.

Edmonton did extensive background work and felt confident bringing in a goalie who was genuinely excited about the opportunity.

The other tough choice was moving on from defenseman Brett Kulak. Edmonton did not want to trade him, but, for cap reasons, had to. That decision hasn’t been an easy pill for the players in the room to swallow.

Skinner, meanwhile, who everyone loved, wasn’t as big a shock. He reportedly found out he’d been traded via an early-morning phone call, which was the biggest surprise of the entire transaction. It was when he learned of the deal, not so much that he’d been moved.

This article first appeared on NHL Trade Talk and was syndicated with permission.

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