Edmonton Oilers Pittsburgh Penguins goalie trade Jarry Skinner five days later: Historic showdown delivers immediate answers

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Penguins fan chanting “Stu” after every save had no idea how strange it felt for Stuart Skinner. Five days after being traded from his hometown Edmonton Oilers, the 27-year-old goaltender stood in the visitor’s crease wearing his old Oilers mask and white-and-gold Penguins pads, facing the franchise that drafted him and the teammates he helped reach two consecutive Stanley Cup Finals. Across the ice, Tristan Jarry — the man he was traded for — wore his old Penguins mask and blue Oilers pads, creating a surreal scene that made NHL history. When the final horn sounded on a 6-4 Edmonton victory, both goaltenders had experienced what McDavid called “a unique situation,” but only Jarry left with the win in a trade that already looks lopsided.

The blockbuster trade that reshaped two franchises

The deal materialized suddenly last Friday morning, sending shockwaves through both organizations. Edmonton sent Stuart Skinner, defenseman Brett Kulak, and a 2029 second-round pick to Pittsburgh in exchange for Tristan Jarry and forward Samuel Poulin. The inclusion of Kulak, a reliable depth defenseman and fellow Edmonton native in the final year of his $2.75 million contract, proved necessary to balance salary cap considerations. Oilers general manager Stan Bowman acknowledged the difficulty of parting with Kulak, stating, “We certainly weren’t trying to trade Brett Kulak. But in order to make the transaction work and the money going back and forth, that had to be part of it.”

The trade represented a calculated gamble for Bowman, who faces mounting pressure to deliver a Stanley Cup before Connor McDavid’s contract expires in 2028. “It’s not so much a comment on Stuart Skinner,” Bowman explained during the media call. “It’s just really maybe time for something different here.” The Oilers had watched Skinner post an .891 save percentage through 23 starts this season, raising concerns about whether he could provide the stability needed for another deep playoff run. Meanwhile, Jarry arrived with a 9-3-1 record, 2.66 goals-against average, and .909 save percentage, plus the crucial element of team control through 2027 at $5.375 million annually.

For the Penguins, the trade signaled a pragmatic pivot toward future assets. Adding a 2029 second-round pick while acquiring a young, proven starter in Skinner who could bridge their goaltending pipeline made sense for a team loaded with prospect depth. Pittsburgh’s system features 21-year-old Sergei Murashov, 23-year-old Joel Blomqvist, and 24-year-old Arturs Silovs, creating a logjam that made Jarry expendable. The full implications of this trade analysis continue unfolding as both teams navigate their competitive windows.

Five days later: A goaltending duel for the record books

Tuesday night’s matchup at PPG Paints Arena marked the first time in NHL history that goaltenders involved in the same trade faced each other within seven days of the deal. The league’s schedule makers couldn’t have scripted a more immediate reunion, forcing both netminders to confront their former squads before new equipment could even be prepared. Jarry wore his Penguins mask and blue pads from his Edmonton Oil Kings junior days, while Skinner sported his Oilers mask with Pittsburgh’s white-and-gold color scheme. “We should’ve switched masks,” Skinner joked postgame. “I feel like the mask takes the longest because you have to get a paint job. It would’ve been funny if we saw each other in warm-ups at the red line and changed helmets.”

The emotional weight of the evening became evident during the first television timeout when Pittsburgh honored Jarry with a tribute video. The two-time All-Star waved his stick to the crowd, tapped his chest, and held his glove in the air as fans applauded their former goaltender. Simultaneously, Penguins supporters welcomed Skinner with signs, including one fan’s picture of his face, and chants of “Stu” after his early saves. “I saw a couple signs out there and somebody had a picture of my face,” Skinner said. “It was a great welcome. I really appreciate it from the fans.”

On the ice, both goaltenders handled the awkwardness with professionalism despite the circus atmosphere. Leon Draisaitl, who recorded his 1,000th career point on Zach Hyman’s first-period power-play goal, acknowledged the bizarre circumstances: “It’s odd, just the whole situation of how quickly we played them after the trade happened. I’m sure there are lots of people who felt odd about it.” McDavid, who scored twice and finished with four points, praised both goalies’ composure. “I thought both goalies handled themselves well. It was a unique situation and probably a strange night for both guys.”

Jarry’s redemption story finds new life

For Tristan Jarry, the victory represented more than just two points in the standings. The 30-year-old from Surrey, British Columbia, began his career with the Edmonton Oil Kings in the WHL, making his return to Edmonton organization a homecoming of sorts. After signing a five-year, $26.875 million contract with Pittsburgh in 2023, Jarry struggled so severely last season that the Penguins demoted him to their minor-league affiliate, casting doubt on his future as a starter. His bounce-back performance under first-year coach Dan Muse this season made him attractive to the Oilers, who desperately needed postseason reliability.

Jarry’s Oilers debut against Toronto on Saturday showed promise, stopping 25 shots in a win, but Tuesday’s performance against his former team carried deeper meaning. He made 26 saves on 30 shots, with several coming during crucial penalty-kill situations that could have swung momentum. His positioning and rebound control looked sharp, particularly during Pittsburgh’s early push when emotions ran highest. “I’m sure they’re both excited to get this out of the way,” McDavid observed. “I’m happy we came in here and won the game for [Jarry]. Now, we can look ahead.”

The victory solidified Edmonton’s belief that Jarry can provide the stability that has eluded them during recent playoff runs. His .909 save percentage and 2.66 GAA this season mark significant improvement, and his track record includes two All-Star selections and a career .909 save percentage over 307 NHL games. Perhaps most importantly for Bowman, Jarry’s contract structure gives Edmonton cost certainty for three potential playoff runs. “We wanted to make sure that the person we were bringing in, we felt confident,” Bowman explained. “The fact that he’s got two more years on his contract, we have our goalie for the next three playoff runs.”

Skinner’s difficult debut and emotional adjustment

While Jarry celebrated with his new teammates, Stuart Skinner faced the harsher reality of confronting his former club while still processing the trade. The 2017 third-round pick ranks fifth in Oilers history in wins and played an integral role in back-to-back trips to the Stanley Cup Final, making the sudden departure particularly jarring. “It was definitely different. Super weird, like, taking a nap and thinking that I’m playing the old team,” Skinner admitted. “The first period, I feel like for the first five minutes I kind of had to settle my game in and calm my mind down.”

Skinner’s performance reflected that emotional turbulence. He stopped 17 of 22 shots, with several goals he’d likely want back. Matt Savoie’s second-period marker came from a sharp angle that beat him short side, and Zach Hyman’s power-play goal beat him clean from the slot. The leaky goals came at crucial moments, preventing Pittsburgh from building momentum even as they traded scoring chances with the high-powered Oilers. “As the game went on, I think I did a better and better job at that,” Skinner said of his mental adjustment. “Obviously not the way that I wanted to start. I think I definitely could have helped these guys out on a few goals.”

However, assigning blame to Skinner ignores the impossible circumstances. Pittsburgh’s parade of first-period penalties created a five-on-three situation that Edmonton converted twice within 16 seconds, with Draisaitl’s milestone assist and McDavid’s highlight-reel breakaway beating Skinner before he could find his rhythm. “It’s not ideal to greet your newly acquired goaltender — in his first game in your uniform which happens to be against his former team — by giving him an endless three-on-five to defend against in his first period as part of the team,” noted postgame analysis. Skinner’s body language on the bench showed frustration, but his postgame comments reflected professionalism and a determination to move forward with his new team.

Special teams catastrophe dooms Pittsburgh

The game’s turning point arrived early, and Pittsburgh’s special teams failures proved insurmountable. After a disallowed Justin Brazeau goal due to offside nullified what would have been a momentum-building power-play tally, the Penguins spiraled into penalty trouble. Danton Heinen took an interference penalty, followed 68 seconds later by Bryan Rust’s hooking call. Just 18 seconds into that five-on-three, Brett Kulak — playing his first game for Pittsburgh after being traded with Skinner — airmailed a clearing attempt into the stands for a delay-of-game penalty.

Edmonton’s lethal power play needed no further invitation. Zach Hyman scored from the slot at 12:14 of the first period, with Draisaitl earning the primary assist for his historic 1,000th point. Sixteen seconds later, McDavid danced through Pittsburgh’s penalty killers and beat Skinner clean on a breakaway. The two goals in 16 seconds deflated the building and forced the Penguins into catch-up mode they never escaped.

The special teams disparity defined the entire evening. Edmonton finished 3-for-6 on the power play, while Pittsburgh went 1-for-4. Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard added another power-play marker in the second period, while Erik Karlsson’s booming one-timer provided Pittsburgh’s only man-advantage goal. “The story of this game was special teams from start to finish,” game analysis concluded. “Unfortunately, the Penguins just didn’t have an answer for Edmonton’s lethal power play unit.”

Immediate implications and early verdicts

Five days after the trade, early returns suggest Edmonton may have secured a significant victory. Beyond the two points in the standings, the Oilers demonstrated that Jarry can handle pressure situations while providing the stability Bowman craved. His performance against his former team, coupled with his cost certainty through 2027, addresses Edmonton’s most glaring weakness from recent playoff failures. The Oilers can now focus on supporting McDavid and Draisaitl with confidence their goaltending won’t be the reason they fall short.

For Pittsburgh, the loss extended a concerning slide to six straight defeats and an 0-2-4 record without Evgeni Malkin. While Skinner’s debut performance shouldn’t trigger panic, the Penguins’ broader struggles raise questions about whether the trade accelerated their timeline too aggressively. General manager Kyle Dubas had explained the timing by saying, “It just made sense for us to do it at this time,” referencing their deep goaltending pipeline. However, watching Jarry immediately succeed while their new starter adjusts creates natural discomfort.

The trade’s long-term judgment remains premature. Skinner’s pedigree as a proven playoff performer and his age (27) compared to Jarry (30) could favor Pittsburgh in three years. The 2029 second-round pick and Samuel Poulin’s development add future value that Edmonton surrendered to win now. But as the Oilers flew home with two points and Jarry’s successful revenge game, the immediate optics favored Bowman’s aggressive move. “We’re ripping off the band-aid right away,” became the night’s theme, and five days later, Edmonton looks ready to heal its goaltending wounds while Pittsburgh addresses fresh ones.

The Oilers’ acquisition of Tristan Jarry represents a turning point in their goaltending strategy, sacrificing familiarity for reliability. For the Penguins, this trade analysis reveals a franchise betting on its prospect pipeline while acquiring assets for the future. Both teams knew this game would provide immediate feedback, and the 6-4 final score delivered a clear message: Edmonton got exactly what it needed, when it needed it most.