Former Edmonton Oilers goaltender Devan Dubnyk has stepped forward with crucial advice for the team's current netminding situation, specifically addressing the struggles of Stuart Skinner. In a revealing interview, Dubnyk expressed strong support for Skinner while warning that time may be running out for the young goalie to find his form.
Striking Similarities Between Two Alberta-Born Goalies
Dubnyk, who now works as an NHL hockey analyst in Minnesota, describes himself as a huge Stuart Skinner booster, noting the remarkable parallels in their career paths. Both are large-framed goaltenders who take up significant space in the net, both are Alberta natives who developed their skills in the Western Hockey League, and both were drafted by the Edmonton Oilers.
The similarities continue: Dubnyk was selected 14th overall in 2004, while Skinner was chosen 78th overall in 2017. Each spent four years developing in Edmonton's minor professional system before breaking into the NHL roster. Both experienced early success with the Oilers before encountering significant challenges.
The Current Goaltending Crisis
Skinner's situation reached a critical point on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, when he was pulled from the game against the Dallas Stars after surrendering four first-period goals. His performance this season has raised concerns, with his .878 save percentage ranking 49th among regular NHL goaltenders.
During an appearance on the 100% Hockey podcast with John Shannon and Daren Millard, Dubnyk expressed his concerns about Skinner's current form. "I'm a huge Stuart Skinner supporter," Dubnyk stated. "I don't know how much time is left on it. I think I just want to see him settle in and just start to look comfortable."
The Path Forward for Skinner and the Oilers
Dubnyk identified the core issue affecting Skinner's performance. "The biggest thing is it's starting to get a little scrambly, you know, a little chaotic," he observed. "As the goalie that he is, that's something he needs to bring is the calmness back there and the structure and the positioning."
The former Oilers standout emphasized that the intense pressure in Edmonton makes it impossible for players to completely block out external noise. Dubnyk pointed to his own successful partnership with veteran Nikolai Khabibulin as the model Edmonton should follow. Having a reliable backup who can shoulder significant playing time provides the starting goalie with opportunities to reset mentally.
Currently, with backup Calvin Pickard struggling, Skinner lacks that crucial support system. "It's all on him. It's all on Stuart Skinner, and that's a lot of extra pressure knowing that he's not feeling good in the net," Dubnyk explained. "He knows the pressure's there. He wants to go in and win, and he has to do it every night."
Dubnyk's solution is clear: "I think for Stuart Skinner to come on the right side of this, they're gonna have to get somebody that can come in and be that person and compete with him and get the pressure off a little bit." This competition and shared responsibility could be exactly what Skinner needs to rediscover the form that made him so promising during his rookie season in 2022-23.
