Stuart Skinner and Connor McDavid are entering the 2025-26 NHL season with serious question marks surrounding both of them. Will they continue playing for the Edmonton Oilers, or does their future lie elsewhere?
Both are entering contract years with the team, and while McDavid is expected to sign a new deal in Alberta, the goaltender’s situation is unclear. In fact, word around the NHL is that the Oilers could target a Mammoth goalie making his return to the league as a potential replacement.
Even though Skinner would probably like to get clarity on the Oilers‘ intentions beyond next season, the 26-year-old is getting an encouraging message from somewhere else. It appears that his Winter Olympic chances aren’t over yet.
Skinner could still play for Canada in 2026 Winter Olympics
Team Canada raised eyebrows by inviting only three goaltenders to its orientation camp in Calgary next week, but according to general manager Doug Armstrong, that hasn’t shut the door on Skinner and other candidates.
Connor McDavid (left) hugs Stuart Skinner.
“It just didn’t feel right bringing that large number of goalies to the camp, so we just went with the three, but I’ve talked to the other goalies and told them that it’s an open competition to play well and make our decisions hard in January,” Armstrong told OverDrive on TSN 1050 Toronto, via TSN. “It’s open competition for that goaltending position.”
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The only goalies to get an invitation to Team Canada’s camp were Jordan Binnington, Adin Hill, and Sam Montembeault, who also represented the country in its 4 Nations Face-Off triumph in February.
Armstrong’s comments, however, gives hope to the likes of Skinner. The Edmonton native may not know what’s going to happen with his NHL team, but at least he knows his chances of playing in Milano Cortina 2026 are still alive.
Skinner, Oilers may have to wait for McDavid’s decision
Skinner is entering the final year of a three-year, $7.8 million contract signed with the Oilers in December 2022. Inconsistent performances in Edmonton’s second consecutive Stanley Cup Final loss to the Florida Panthers last season put his future with McDavid and company up in the air.
The year left on Skinner’s deal could force the Oilers to either hand the goalie an extension or trade him, unless they take the risk of losing the netminder for nothing in 2026.
SurveyShould the Oilers hand Skinner a new deal?
Should the Oilers hand Skinner a new deal?
Right now, the priority in Edmonton is to get McDavid tied to a new contract. Needless to say, the front office will probably do whatever it takes to get it done, and it might make an impact on the cap space. Perhaps the Oilers address Skinner’s situation once McDavid puts pen to paper.
