At 32-years-old, Jeff Skinner is not any spring rooster. Having skated in 15 NHL seasons and 1,006 common season video games, and with 357 targets and 670 factors beneath his belt, it’s no secret that he’s nearer to the top of his profession than the start. However that actually doesn’t imply that his finest days aren’t forward of him, because the veteran left-winger will go well with up for the Edmonton Oilers within the 2024-25 marketing campaign along with his finest alternative to win a Stanley Cup immediately in entrance of him.
When Skinner grew to become a free agent this offseason, it was clear that he had one focus in thoughts: signing with a professional Stanley Cup-contending staff. What many might not know is that, in his 15 years within the NHL, he has but to look is a single playoff sport. His profession started with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2010 throughout a stormy interval of their existence earlier than he joined the Buffalo Sabres in 2018. For the Oilers to nab a participant of his caliber on a one-year deal for $3 million clearly indicated his focus, because the native of Markham, Ontario certainly may have demanded a contract of longer-term and worth with a lot of totally different NHL groups.
Profession-Yr on Faucet for Skinner?
When Skinner takes to the ice with Edmonton for the 2024-25 marketing campaign, it’ll current the veteran left-winger with a handful of career-best alternatives. The truth is, not solely will he be taking part in for among the finest groups of his profession, however he’ll be skating alongside arguably his finest crop of teammates ever, too. Though the Oilers’ lineup is something however set in stone forward of the 2024-25 season, it seems at first look as if Skinner can be given the chance to skate on the second line alongside perennial All-Star Leon Draisaitl and up to date free agent signee Viktor Arvidsson. With a world-class playmaker down the center and a hard-nosed puck hound to his proper, Skinner will certainly be afforded infinite scoring alternatives and tap-ins taking part in alongside two of the sport’s finest.
On prime of his obtrusive alternative throughout the Oilers’ prime six, anticipate to see Skinner on the second power-play unit to start the season. For the previous few years, the primary power-play unit has been closely relied upon – primarily due to the staff’s star energy, but in addition as a result of lack of depth scoring. With Skinner certain to be inserted onto the second unit alongside Arvidsson, the Oilers may have a deadly secondary choice on the power-play, and one that may enable them to relaxation their star gamers for added even-strength motion. Over the previous three seasons, no staff has iced a extra profitable energy play than the Oilers, who’ve loved a jaw-dropping 28.4% success charge. If Skinner can add a larger depth and risk to the person benefit, we may very nicely see some of the profitable power-play groups in NHL historical past throughout the 2024-25 marketing campaign.
Low Danger, Excessive Reward
On the finish of the day, the Oilers’ signing of Skinner to a one-year deal is solely a low-risk, high-reward transfer. Within the best-case situation, he joins Edmonton and items collectively a profession yr alongside his new and wildly gifted teammates. Certain to obtain ample taking part in time within the prime six in addition to on the ability play, incentive is in Skinner’s nook – slated to grow to be an unrestricted free agent (UFA) on the finish of the approaching marketing campaign, a wonderful season may result in a profitable long-term deal within the close to future.
Associated: Expectations for New Oiler Ahead Jeff Skinner
On the flip aspect, if Skinner isn’t capable of finding success, it’ll have been a well-intended transfer by the Oilers that merely didn’t pan out. Certain, they’re going through wage cap woes, however taking of venture on a participant resembling Skinner on a short-term and low-value deal is precisely the kind of transfer that might assist push them to the highest as they set their sights on a return to the Stanley Cup Last. If this transfer pays off for Edmonton, Oilers followers may very nicely be clamouring for Jeff Jackson to grow to be the staff’s full-time normal supervisor somewhat than its CEO of Hockey Operations.
