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Former Oilers goalie tandem Skinner, Pickard set to hit NHL free agency
Photo credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
May 11, 2026, 18:00 EDTUpdated: May 11, 2026, 18:24 EDT
One of the top free-agent goaltenders in this 2026 unrestricted class is former Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner.
After he departed from the team in the Tristan Jarry trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Dec. 12, Skinner played through ups and downs, but did help the Pens earn a playoff berth.
However, after losing three straight starts in the first-round against the Philadelphia Flyers, Skinner lost the net to Arturs Silovs, which extended the series to six games before an eventual loss.
Ottawa Senators reporter Bruce Garrioch believes Skinner is a candidate to sign in the nation’s capital.
He wrote in the Ottawa Citizen about the familiarity that general manager Steve Staios, who was a part of the Oilers front office from 2022 to 2023, would have with Skinner.
“The expectation is he won’t be back with the Penguins next season, and the belief is he will be among Ottawa’s top targets in free agency,” he wrote on Friday.
“Skinner made $2.6 million last season, and the Senators could be a nice fit because he’d have a chance to help them win without the No. 1 pressure…By all accounts, Skinner is a quality individual who would fit in well here.”
Along with Connor Ingram, Sergei Bobrovsky, and Frederik Andersen, Skinner is one of the biggest free-agent goalie names.
In the 23 starts with the Oilers, Skinner posted an 11-8-4 record with a 2.83 goals-against average and a .891 save percentage.
In comparison, Skinner started 27 contests with the Pens, finishing with a 12-9-5 record, a 2.99 goals-against average and a .885 save percentage. During the playoffs, he was 0-3, with a 3.08 GAA and a .873 save percentage.
Tristan Jarry is the lone NHL goaltender with a contract on the Oilers heading into the future.
Pickard’s heartfelt goodbye
One of the most beloved Edmonton Oilers, by his teammates and fans alike, is Calvin Pickard.
He posted to his Instagram last week a series of pictures from his tenure with the caption: “Thank you Edmonton.”
Originally signed by the Oilers to be an AHL fixture in 2022-23, Pickard seized the opportunity when Jack Campbell was sent down, and became Skinner’s backup.
He became a big piece of the two trips to the Stanley Cup Finals, including winning six straight games in 2025 after the Oilers went down 2-0 to the Los Angeles Kings in the first-round. Pickard went 7-1 during that playoff run.
This season didn’t bear the same success, and Pickard was eventually sent down to the minors, much to the chagrin of his teammates. Where the 34-year-old’s future lies is unclear.
Michael Menzies is an Oilersnation columnist and co-host of PreGaming and Oilersnation After Dark. He’s also been the play-by-play voice of the Bonnyville Pontiacs in the AJHL since 2019. With seven years of news experience as the Editor-at-Large of Lakeland Connect in Bonnyville, Menzies collects vinyl, books, and stomach issues. Follow him on X at Menzies_4.
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