Despite Stuart Skinner’s strong performances and apparent fit with the Pittsburgh Penguins, trade discussions around him are intensifying ahead of the March 6 deadline, with the Montreal Canadiens emerging as the primary team interested. As the Penguins’ general manager, Kyle Dubas, appears ready to move Skinner, this has sparked a wave of speculation involving several NHL teams looking to strengthen their goalie position.
Potential Teams Eyeing Stuart Skinner
Kyle Dubas has shown a willingness to reshape his roster despite Pittsburgh’s unexpectedly good season, as demonstrated by his recent trade sending Brett Kulak to Colorado. With talks now indicating that Stuart Skinner could be available, insider Frank Seravalli identified three teams as likely contenders interested in acquiring the goalie: the Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, and Carolina Hurricanes.
Seravalli explained the thinking behind these possibilities:
“The thought process was, is Stuart Skinner going to be the guy for the long haul? And it doesn’t appear that that’s the case… I think there’s a bunch of teams that were saying, if the price is right and if there are no strings attached, then yeah, maybe we could be a team that is interested in upgrading our goaltending position. One of those teams, I think, is the Montreal Canadiens. But there’s another team I looked at—we just talked about the Ottawa Senators and how their goaltending has been poor—maybe if you put a guy in tandem with Linus Ullmark, the Sens make sense. And then maybe the other part would be, what about the Carolina Hurricanes?”
Stuart Skinner’s Current Status and Performance
Skinner, 27, is entering the final year of a three-year, $7.8 million contract extension signed with Edmonton in 2022, and he is set to become an unrestricted free agent after this season. Throughout 36 starts this season between the Oilers and Penguins, he has compiled a 19-12-5 record with a 2.79 goals-against average, an .890 save percentage, and two shutouts. His stats reflect solid performance, even if some teams question his long-term fit.
Why Montreal Is Viewed as the Leading Candidate
Among the teams mentioned, Montreal stands out due to its urgent need for dependable goaltending. The Canadiens’ goalies have struggled this season, and acquiring a goalie of Skinner’s playoff experience and skill could stabilize the position. Additionally, Montreal would likely view Skinner as a short-term rental, avoiding a long-term commitment beyond the 2025-26 season. This approach would preserve opportunities for younger prospects like Jacob Fowler and Jakub Dobes to develop.
Evaluating Ottawa and Carolina’s Interest
The Ottawa Senators and Carolina Hurricanes also appear plausible landing spots for Skinner, though their needs differ. Ottawa has had challenges in goal this season, making the idea of pairing Skinner with Linus Ullmark appealing, particularly as an upgrade to their lineup. On the other hand, Carolina currently has Brandon Bussi and Frederik Andersen as goal options, reducing their urgency. Still, as an organization that values depth in the crease, the Hurricanes remain on the board as potential suitors.
Possible Developments in the Coming Week
With the trade deadline approaching, more teams might enter the discussion as negotiations progress. However, the Canadiens’ apparent urgency and Skinner’s realistic price as a rental make this deal increasingly likely. Their commitment to improving goaltending sooner rather than later could shape their success in upcoming games, while Pittsburgh’s readiness to trade Skinner signals a focus on rebuilding and future assets.
Meanwhile, the situation around Ottawa adds pressure to the trade market, as analysts include other key players such as Brady Tkachuk on possible trade boards, intensifying the urgency for moves before the deadline.
