It has become a tradition to blame the goalkeepers of the Edmonton Oilers. After another playoff game ended with a large number of “Western League champions” t-shirts and hats instead of championship gear, Stuart Skinner found himself in the crosshair. He was censored, scapegoated and blamed, and many fans hoped he was gone.
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But the problem is not just Skinner. What if one of his biggest challenges is not to stop the hockey? It is observing, watching and reading the shoulders of teammates, what should I do?
Try to see Skinner’s teammates and their reactions
These are the cornerstones of the world’s best players, top talent and Oilers’ roster. When these players are allowed to score every time they fall, or do they slide without a word? What is this to send a message to the 26-year-old goalkeeper trying to cover up the most harmful position of hockey, and arguably in Edmonton?
Mandatory Credit: Walter Tychnowicz-Imagn Image
It’s not just optical. This is psychology. Confidence in goalkeepers is fragile, especially in Canada’s high-pressure market. And, when the body language of a star player conveys frustration or blame, it’s more than just a glance. It becomes weight.
Skinner is the goalkeeper and won his place
Skinner did not inherit his job—he won the job. Drafted and developed by the oiler, he shouldn’t be the first goalkeeper. The job belongs to Jack Campbell, who signed a five-year contract to resolve the team’s crease problem. But Campbell faltered and Skinner stood up.
Related: Oiler’s Goalkeeper Dilemma: Can Calvin Pickard push Stuart Skinner to Stanley Cup glory?
In his rookie season, he held the net, starting from the playoffs, and gave the Oilers a fighter. He is young. He is a native. His cost control. Most importantly, the NHL All-Star team is not why it lost to the Florida Panthers in its second consecutive cup final. Although accusing him of maybe an easy way to explain why the “Western Conference Champion” T-shirts and hats are too many, it’s still not sold throughout the city, but there’s more to the story.
The team around him is not stable: oiler reset and restart
Ask Ryan Nugent-Hopkins what it feels like to be an oil. He has served as nine head coaches and seven head coaches since being selected by the organization in 2011. Here are some names for Nugent-Hopkins coming and going: (Head Coach) Tom Renney, Ralph Kruger, Dallas Eakins, Todd Nelson, Todd McLellan, Ken Hitchcock, Dave Tippett, Jay Woodcroft; (GMS) Steve Tambellini, Craig Mactavish, Peter Chiarelli, Keith Gretzky (Interim), Ken Holland, Jeff Jackson (temporary).
This is an amazing indicator of the instability of the Oil Man throughout his career. If history teaches us anything, Kris Knoblauch (head coach) and Stan Bowman (GM) may soon be looking for new jobs. There is no evidence that it is difficult to support this idea. It is based solely on recent trends, which is a simple view of noting the instability that occurs within the Oil Organization. Obviously, there is no long-term vision – just reset and restart. So Skinner is not only facing the pressure—he is dealing with a franchise that often doesn’t know what he wants.
Oil workers’ culture issues
There is a narrative that the Oilers are just a goalkeeper, not winning the Stanley Cup. Goalkeeper leaves? What if that narrative is wrong? What should oil people do if they need cultural changes?
Related: Knoblauch’s path to becoming a game-changing coach for the Oiler
Great teams gather around goalkeepers. When they trip, they pick them up. They fight for them in the corner. They support them not only in the media, but also in subtle moments on the ice – a cushion, a glance, a word, We have you.
Apparently, some players have shown these signs. But not everyone. When the goalkeeper is left, after pulling the puck from the net to the puck, reading the cold shoulders of the top players is not a performance issue – it seems to be a cultural issue. This is worth considering from the oiler’s locker room. This is not any advice, that teammates should not be held accountable to each other. This is just a concept that highlights the question of “when, where and how”.
If Skinner leaves Edmonton, watch him lift the cup somewhere else
The goalkeeper takes time. They swing. They develop. Sergei Bobrovsky of the Panthers is not always a playoff hero. He often bounced in the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Philadelphia Flyer Organization before he won the Stanley Cup twice in Florida, often in good conflict with his coaches, and he found his A-Game again.
Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Image
Yaroslav Askarov can’t be the NHL roster for Nashville Predators. John Gibson’s career was written off, just a revival and the focus of the conversation (a few weeks ago) because of “the guy the oiler needs.” All fans can agree and a complete goalkeeper list can be added here.
So if Edmonton gave up Skinner too early, the team currently defeating Lord Stanley’s goal might end up watching him lift the Stanley Cup elsewhere, but it’s worth considering. Because there is no doubt: Skinner is talented. He has skills. He is willing to help bring the cup back to his hometown, his birth, his growth, and help other born Edmonton-born and raised young hockey players to advance to provincial playoff championships.
Related: Oilers and Maple Leaf, working hard to break the curse of the 30 Years Cup.
Eventually, he gave Edmonton kids and fans the chance to cheer those who grew up in the nosebleed, watching “goalkeeper Dwayne Roloson” lead the Oilers in the memorable 2006 Cup.
What Skinner needs from the oiler
Skinner could be the answer, but he needs to manage him better. What he doesn’t need is a revolving door to the bench, allowing signing to be a goalkeeper for the Calvin Pickard, absolutely no pressure, and then “beyond the weight level.” Skinner was stressed; Picard didn’t. Don’t believe that this “revolving door” won’t work for a minute. enter The Psychology of Goalkeepers. So, back to the point: Skinner can win! Skinner will win! The question remains: Which NHL team?
Skinner now needs more than ever, and it’s hard to achieve in the hockey crazy city of Edmonton throughout the 2025-26 season. Believe in yourself, his coach’s beliefs, and most importantly, his teammates’ beliefs. When the puck enters the network, this can start with body language on the ice.
Related: Oiler’s Lazal brings championship experience, back to Edmonton
After all, the hockey will enter, including soft targets. The challenge is that the Oiler decides “Skinner is our guy”! It’s time to get the goalkeeper a little harder, who should still be two seasons behind the $25 million Campbell.
[Note: I’d like to thank Brent Bradford (PhD) for his help co-authoring this post. His profile can be found at www.linkedin.com/in/brent-bradford-phd-3a10022a9]
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