Major Weakness in Oilers' Stuart Skinner Identified by NHL Goalie Analyst

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Liam McCormick
October 17, 2024 (2:20 PM)

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The Oilers have high hopes that Stuart Skinner will be able to carry them to another Stanley Cup Final appearance, but one Goalie Analyst is sounding the alarm on Edmonton's netminder.

Steve Valiquette, a former NHL goalie who now works in hockey analytics, joined Sportsnet Radio to share his concerns on Stuart Skinner. According to Valiquette's data, Skinner ranks as the worst goalie in the NHL for lateral movement.

»The area that Stuart Skinner really struggles with is the east west game, whether it's at 5 on 5 in zone or off the rush. His movement side to side, is . . . You're talking about the top 64 guys in the league, he's the worst of those 64. . . I wonder if he doesn't get to east and west well enough to play all the way through and get them all the way through.»
- Steve Valiquette

Valiquette went on to explain that his data says NHL teams need to be elite on special teams and off the rush to win the Stanley Cup, and that includes goals against. Because Skinner struggles with east to west movement, he allows more goals than average on passing plays on the powerplay or rush chances. Valiquette believes Skinner's struggles may become so impactful that the Oilers would be better off starting Calvin Pickard.

Being a young Edmonton-born goalie on a value contract, the Oilers and their fans clearly want Skinner to pan out as a reliable starting goalie. His breakout season two years ago was stellar with a .914 save percentage, but last year was barely average at a .904 save percentage. It's possible that teams have even identified this weakness in Skinner's game, and are actively game planning to exploit it.

There's also the concerns of the goaltending coach on any Oilers goalie in the last decade. For far too long, goalies have regressed in their time with Edmonton only to improve with better coaching in a different environment. If Valiquette has identified this weakness with Skinner, other teams surely have as well - and the Oilers should already be working to correct it. In May of last season, Skinner hired his own personal goalie coach outside of the Oilers organization.

For the Oilers first road game of the season tonight against the Nashville Predators, backup goalie Calvin Pickard will get the starting nod in net. Perhaps the Oilers give him a heavier work load this year, and explore all their possible goalie options heading into the playoffs.