Edmonton Oilers’ Stuart Skinner named to All-Rookie Team as Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl named to All-Star Teams

A number of Edmonton Oilers got the nod when it comes to the all-rookie, and all-star teams this year.

Netminder Stuart Skinner was named the goaltender for the all-rookie team on Monday night, while Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl were pencilled in on the first and second all-star teams, respectively.

They weren’t the only ones getting votes, however, as Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman also earned all-star votes.

In previous years, the Oilers have developed a knack for nurturing extraordinary talent and Skinner is a prime example. The 24-year-old made his long-awaited debut as a full-time NHL player and immediately proved himself between the pipes. His impressive .914 save percentage helped the Oilers not only defensively but helped the team secure their second-place finish in the Pacific Division.

In 50 games played, Skinner boasted a record of 29-14-5. His win total set an Edmonton rookie record, the best among rookie goaltenders since Matt Murray’s 32 wins in his breakout season with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016-17. In February, the Oilers rookie was the second goaltender in franchise history to play in the NHL All-Star game, following in the great Grant Fuhr’s footsteps back in 1982, and is the very first Edmonton netminder named to the All-Rookie Team.

Joining Skinner on the All-Rookie Team is Calder Trophy winner Matty Berniers from the Seattle Kraken, Dallas Stars Wyatt Johnson, Arizona Coyotes Matias Maccelli, Buffalo Sabres Owen Power, and Ottawa Senators Jake Sanderson.

The Oilers’ dynamic duo McDavid and Draisaitl were honoured as the two centers in the first and second all-star teams. For the first time in 62 years, two players from the same organization have taken the top two places at center.

A conversation about the team’s success is incomplete without mentioning McDavid. The superstar forward captured 64 goals and 153 points, cleaning up four awards on Monday night. This is the fifth time he’s been named on the first team with only five past players in NHL history who have had as many berths with Wayne Gretzky at eight, Jean Beliveau at six, Phil Esposito at six, Stan Mikita at six, and Mario Lemieux at five. Dallas Stars Jason Robertson joins McDavid on the left wing of the first all-star team, Boston Bruins David Pastrnak, San Jose Erik Karlsson, and New York Rangers Adam Fox were named as defencemen, and Linus Ullmark was named as goaltender.

Draisaitl was named the centre for the second all-star team, with an awe-inspiring season behind him. The German forward was second in regular season scoring behind McDavid with 52 goals and 128 points. Joining him on the Second All-Star Team is Rangers Artemi Panarin on the left wing, Florida Panthers Matthew Tkachuk, Boston’s Hampus Lindholm, and Colorado Avalanche Cale Makar on defence, and Ilya Sorokin as goaltender.

Skinner, McDavid, and Draisaitl aren’t the only Oilers voted on, as Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins also received votes. Nugent-Hopkins received 233 points in voting for leftwingers on the All-Star Teams, with one vote for first teams, 63 for second, and 39 for third, just 54 behind Panarin’s 287 points, placing him third in the running. Hyman placed seventh in voting for rightwingers with four points, one second-team vote, and one third-team vote.

NHL announced the players named to the All-Rookie Team and the First and Second All-Star Teams on Monday after the conclusion of the 2022-23 NHL Awards in Nashville, TN.