Stuart Skinner doesn't seem long for Pittsburgh, but the Penguins could keep him if they make one move.
Skinner, 27, experienced one of the worst seasons of his career in 2025-26, most of which he spent with the Penguins, so it's not likely the organization is as eager to re-sign him as it was to trade for him. But if the Penguins really did what Skinner back, they would have to make another trade.
“Goaltender Stuart Skinner, acquired from the Edmonton Oilers in last season’s Tristan Jarry trade, appears unlikely to return to the Penguins,” The Athletic's Josh Yohe wrote. “It would take a long shot — trading Artūrs Silovs — before July 1, when Skinner becomes an unrestricted free agent.
“If they dealt Silovs, the Penguins would be open to teaming Skinner with Sergei Murashov next season. The Penguins loved having Skinner in the locker room. Still, smart money says they will re-sign Silovs, a talented pending restricted free agent whose postseason performance seemed to get the organization’s attention.”
Yohe added that “the Penguins’ leadership was delighted” with Skinner's presence in the locker room but not so much with his on-ice play. Additionally, Yohe reported that a team source called his physical attributes “limited” and preferred the long-term potential of Silovs and 22-year-old Sergei Murashov.
In his one year with the Penguins, Skinner went 12-9-5 and posted a 2.99 GAA and .885 SV%. He previously played five seasons with the Oilers, with whom he earned an All-Star Game appearance in 2023.
Silovs, 25, began his career with the Vancouver Canucks before being traded to Pittsburgh last July in a deal involving former first-round pick Chase Stillman. Silovs posted worse numbers in the regular season than Skinner but did well in his three playoff appearances, during which he had a 1.52 GAA and .939 SV%.
