Divisive former Oiler Stuart Skinner linked to one specific Canadian team
Photo credit: Kevin Ng-Imagn Images
Stuart Skinner is expected to hit the open market, and head coach Travis Green desperately wants him in Ottawa.
The Senators are hunting for actual stability between the pipes. They need a proven, battle-tested presence to salvage the defensive zone.
Reports from respected insider Bruce Garrioch strongly link the veteran netminder to the nation's capital. Management is officially circling their target.
Skinner completely revitalized his overall game after arriving in Pittsburgh via trade. He provided solid execution during a highly turbulent stretch for the Penguins.
His long tenure in Edmonton was undeniably divisive among the local fanbase. The daily pressure cooker of Northern Alberta absolutely tested his mental resolve.
Stuart Skinner's playoff experience is undeniable
The critics were incredibly loud, but the raw results speak for themselves. He backstopped the Oilers to two consecutive Stanley Cup Finals.
You simply do not accidentally win 26 career postseason games. He genuinely understands the crushing weight of playing in a rabid Canadian market.
Ottawa already has Linus Ullmark heavily featured on the books. But the veteran has been wildly inconsistent since arriving in the Atlantic Division.
Ullmark clearly cannot realistically shoulder a massive workload without burning out. The defensive structure routinely breaks down when the crease rotation falters.
With a solid .886 save percentage over 24 games in Pittsburgh, Skinner proved he can handle high-leverage situations effectively. He is the ultimate insurance policy.
He routinely makes the timely saves when the penalty kill inevitably collapses. The transition game instantly improves when defensemen actually trust the guy backing them up.
Green expects an aggressive, fast-paced attack from his entire lineup every single night. That specific system fundamentally requires two reliable goaltenders to survive the grueling schedule.
Free agency opens very soon, and the inevitable bidding war for competent netminders will be fierce. Ottawa possesses the cap flexibility to pull the trigger immediately.
Landing Skinner sends a massive, undeniable message to the rest of the locker room. The front office is absolutely sick of missing the postseason.
This aggressive move gives the Senators a legitimate tandem capable of stealing tough points on the road. It is a necessary business decision to finally fix the franchise.
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