Stuart Skinner Bio
Stuart Daniel Skinner is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who plays the goaltender position for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). Selected in the third round, 78th overall, in the 2017 NHL entry draft by the Edmonton Oilers, he played parts of five seasons with the Oilers before being traded to Pittsburgh in 2025. Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and catching with his left hand, Skinner has built his career on calm positioning and dependable rebound control in high-pressure environments.
Early Life and Background
Stuart Daniel Skinner was born on November 1, 1998, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. He grew up in the city as the youngest of nine siblings, a detail that shaped the early environment in which he learned to compete for attention and ice time. Every member of the Skinner family has a first name that begins with the letter “S,” a small family tradition that has followed the children throughout their lives.
Skinner developed his love for the game in Edmonton, playing minor ice hockey at the South Side Athletic Club. He skated for the SSAC Lions of the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League, where his path crossed with future Edmonton Oilers teammates Tyler Benson and James Hamblin. Those overlapping seasons helped him build a familiar circle of teammates long before he ever reached the NHL.
Path to Hockey
After his minor hockey years, Skinner advanced to major junior hockey in the Western Hockey League. He suited up for both the Lethbridge Hurricanes and the Swift Current Broncos, learning the demanding schedule and travel of junior hockey. On March 18, 2016, while playing for the Lethbridge Hurricanes, Skinner scored an empty-net goal against the Medicine Hat Tigers. That rare feat made him the only goaltender in Hurricanes franchise history and the seventh goaltender in WHL history to score such a goal, an early sign of his competitive instincts.
Stuart Skinner Career
Early Career (2017–2021)
Skinner was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2017 NHL entry draft and signed a three-year entry-level contract on May 14, 2018. He continued to develop in the organization while adjusting to professional hockey. With the pandemic-delayed 2020–21 season, Skinner served as the backup to Mikko Koskinen early on. He made his NHL debut and first start on January 31, 2021, against the Ottawa Senators, earning an 8–5 victory for his first career win.
Later that season, Skinner spent time with the Bakersfield Condors of the American Hockey League, where he led all goaltenders with 20 wins and helped Bakersfield capture the Pacific Division Championship. That combination of NHL experience and AHL success gave him a strong foundation heading into the next phase of his career.
Edmonton Oilers Breakthrough (2021–2025)
During the 2021–22 season, Skinner split time between the AHL and NHL, recording his first NHL shutout on February 14, 2022, against the San Jose Sharks with 20 saves in a 3–0 win. The following season marked a true breakthrough. With Mikko Koskinen departing and Mike Smith injured, Skinner was initially expected to back up Jack Campbell. His strong play, combined with Campbell’s struggles, helped him take over the starting role.
Skinner appeared in 50 regular-season games in 2022–23, posting a 29–14–5 record with a .914 save percentage, and was voted a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s Rookie of the Year. On January 19, 2023, he was selected as one of three final players for the Pacific Division in the 2023 NHL All-Star Game, joining teammate Leon Draisaitl. The 2023–24 season brought its own dramatic chapter, as the Oilers started 3–9–1 before a coaching change. Skinner helped lead a turnaround that included a franchise-record 16-game winning streak, during which he set a franchise record of 11 consecutive wins, breaking a mark long held by Grant Fuhr.
Pittsburgh Penguins Era (2025–Present)
Following a difficult stretch in Edmonton, Skinner was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins on December 12, 2025, along with defenseman Brett Kulak and a 2029 second-round pick, in exchange for goaltender Tristan Jarry and forward Samuel Poulin. At the time of the deal, he had an 11–8–4 record with two shutouts, a 2.83 goals-against average, and an .891 save percentage through 23 games.
Skinner played his first game with the Penguins on December 16 against the Edmonton Oilers, making 17 saves in a 6–4 loss. The matchup offered an early test of his adjustment to a new team and system. Heading into the rest of the 2025–26 season, Skinner was expected to compete for significant playing time in Pittsburgh’s goaltending rotation.
Driving Style and Strengths
Skinner’s goaltending is built on efficient movement, smart angles, and poise under pressure. His 6-foot-4 frame helps him cover the upper portion of the net, while his calm demeanor keeps rebounds under control during high-tempo shifts. Coaches have praised his work ethic and willingness to refine his craft, qualities that have helped him build confidence at the NHL level.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Skinner’s career highlights are his 2016 empty-net goal in the WHL, his first NHL shutout in 2022, and his franchise-record 11 consecutive wins with the Oilers in January 2024. The 2023 NHL All-Star Game selection and Calder Memorial Trophy finalist nod further cemented his place among the league’s promising young goaltenders.
Stuart Skinner Career Wins
Throughout his professional career, Stuart Skinner has steadily built a record of competitive performances in the NHL and AHL, including notable winning streaks, individual milestones, and contributions to division championships.
NHL Highlights
Skinner earned his first NHL win on January 31, 2021, against the Ottawa Senators, an 8–5 victory that opened the door to a full-time role. In 2022–23, he recorded a 29–14–5 mark, the strongest regular season of his career to that point. The following year, he set a franchise record with 11 consecutive wins, surpassing a long-standing mark held by Grant Fuhr.
Other Wins and Performances
In the AHL with the Bakersfield Condors, Skinner led all goaltenders with 20 wins during the 2020–21 season and helped Bakersfield capture the Pacific Division Championship. In junior hockey, his 2016 empty-net goal with the Lethbridge Hurricanes remains one of the rarest achievements in WHL history.
Stuart Skinner Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Stuart Daniel Skinner is the youngest of nine siblings, all of whom share first names beginning with the letter “S.” Growing up in that large household in Edmonton shaped his early competitive drive. While there is no documented racing lineage, his family’s deep roots in the Edmonton community provided a steady foundation for his hockey journey.
Personal Life
Skinner met his wife, Chloe, after a WHL game he played in Lethbridge, and the couple married in June 2020. They welcomed their first son, Beau, in 2023 and their second son, Darcy, in 2025. The young family has been a steady presence throughout his professional career.
2025 Season Performance
Skinner began the 2025–26 season with the Edmonton Oilers, where he posted an 11–8–4 record with two shutouts, a 2.83 goals-against average, and an .891 save percentage through 23 games. His play was part of a larger team effort that had produced mixed results early in the year. On December 12, 2025, the Oilers traded him to the Pittsburgh Penguins in a multi-player deal, signaling a fresh start in a new organization.
Skinner made his Penguins debut on December 16 against the Edmonton Oilers, stopping 17 shots in a 6–4 loss. The early stretch in Pittsburgh is expected to be a key period for him to adjust to a new defensive structure and coaching staff. With the Penguins looking to stabilize their goaltending, Skinner’s track record of winning streaks and steady performances offers a strong foundation for the remainder of the season.
