Rare move from Oilers coach Knoblauch hints at growing frustration with Skinner
The Edmonton Oilers' play has fallen into a bit of a rut recently, and one sign of some frustration may have been Coach Knoblauch making the rare decision to pull Stuart Skinner.
After the Oilers last loss to the Colorado Avalanche, Coach Knoblauch called out Skinner for poor performance costing the team - but he also sent a message with a very rare move of pulling his starter.
Oilers coach Knoblauch sent a strong message to Stuart Skinner with first pull in 53 games
The Oilers commitment to Stuart Skinner as their starter is reflected by Knoblauch's full commitment to who he puts in the crease. For 53 straight games, the Oilers haven't swapped their goalie in game other than for injury.
Bruce McCurdy of the Edmonton Journal highlighted the fact that Skinner hasn't been pulled at all this season, despite really struggling in the first period at times.
- Bruce McCurdy, Edmonton Journal
For Knoblauch to deviate from what obviously was a commitment to allow Skinner to finish out games, there had to be some mounting frustration with Skinner's play.
All season against top ten teams, Skinner hasn't struggled significantly. Against the Colorado Avalanche, he was dismantled quickly, and Coach Knoblauch lost the trust in his starter to finish out the game.
Coach Knoblauch could be sending a message to Stuart Skinner with this rare pull, but it could also be a message to management. Knoblauch may be signalling there's an upgrade needed in net.
The Oilers have been connected to several goalies at the trade deadline, but it feels unlikely they'll actually make the move fans have wanted for years to upgrade their crease with a bona fire starter.
More likely is that the Oilers are blowing ahead with Skinner as their unquestioned starter for another playoff run.
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