Jeff Skinner got his one playoff game and hasnt been seen since

[nbwingsfan]

Pretty obvious why, but this shouldve been discussed. Dude went 1078 regular season games to finally sniff the playoffs and has been riding the bench ever since.

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Would be hilarious to see a guys name on the Cup with one single NHL playoff game played

 

[TheDawnOfANewTage]

This is the biggest blunder by Jeff Jackson to date. Why sign a guy that the coach isn't going to use? Skinner is still a talented player, but something about his game turns Knoblauch off, and a conversation between Jackson and Knoblauch probably would have prevented this altogether.

It also would have left them space to sign Holloway. Broberg wanted out, so that offer sheet isn't as big of a deal, but without that Skinner contract in the way, the Oilers could have signed Holloway earlier, and not relied upon trying to get him to sign his qualifying offer.

This, and I’m frustrated Skinner ended up in such a bad situation. They view him as their 7th best top 6er, I guess, and at no point did Knoblauch give him a chance to be more than that.

I’m glad he made playoffs, I guess, but with him playing 1 game the meme just kinda continues. Jeff’s one of my favorite players, everyone knows his style and flaws- I just hope this doesn’t stop him from getting a multi-year deal with a cellar dweller, or maybe a team with a hole will actually gives him a shot. Wasted money and potential, with him used as he is. They’re winning, though, so wouldn’t change it obviously.

 

[OilerTyler]

isn’t it crazy how convenient that Kane injury recovery timeline turned out to be?

I don’t think you’ll find a single Oilers fan that denies the Oilers are playing the system here. Kane’s injuries were obviously legit but waiting until the fall for him to have his surgeries was very intentional.

If you can’t beat them join them I guess. The funny thing is now that it isn’t Vegas/Tampa doing it the league is talking about cracking down on the loophole.

 

[barkovcanfinnish]

I mean he was a placeholder for Kane who got an 8 month vacation so he was ready for the playoffs

I hate that teams do this crap now, including my own.

 

[Mr Nogatco]

I don’t think you’ll find a single Oilers fan that denies the Oilers are playing the system here. Kane’s injuries were obviously legit but waiting until the fall for him to have his surgeries was very intentional.

Yeah and I think anyone who believes he wasn’t healthy enough to play game 1 vs LA, or game 82 for that matter, is either naive or a willfully ignorant oilers fan.

If you can’t beat them join them I guess. The funny thing is now that it isn’t Vegas/Tampa doing it the league is talking about cracking down on the loophole.

No, they’ve discussed closing the loophole at the league meetings every year since Tampa did it.

It’s a shame some fans feel their team isn’t good enough to win a cup without engaging in that type of BS. Glad my team didn’t need to do that.

 

[ManofSteel55]

This, and I’m frustrated Skinner ended up in such a bad situation. They view him as their 7th best top 6er, I guess, and at no point did Knoblauch give him a chance to be more than that.

I’m glad he made playoffs, I guess, but with him playing 1 game the meme just kinda continues. Jeff’s one of my favorite players, everyone knows his style and flaws- I just hope this doesn’t stop him from getting a multi-year deal with a cellar dweller, or maybe a team with a hole will actually gives him a shot. Wasted money and potential, with him used as he is. They’re winning, though, so wouldn’t change it obviously.

It would be hilarious if we end up winning and he gets his name on the cup from that one game he played.

I do agree, his next contract is likely another short term "show me" deal. If he signed elsewhere, he probably would have been better off financially.

 

[serp]

Damn i completely forget he is on the Oilers . At least he now has technically played in the playoffs even if its just 1 game

 

[Kresnik]

Probably Mcdavid and Drai who adviced the coach to bench Arvidsson and Skinner.

 

[Negan4Coach]

I'm probably the only Canes fan on here who cares about him anymore, but this is completely outrageous. The guy scores goals, man.

All the Canes needed to do was get 1 more point during the season in 2011, and he could have torn it up in the playoffs his rookie year

 

[Slats432]

isn’t it crazy how convenient that Kane injury recovery timeline turned out to be?

 

[Mr Nogatco]

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I was referring to the claim that Kane was conveniently injured one extra game so Skinner could get his playoff game in. Go off tho

 

[fancy dan]

not defensive, not strong enough and didn't buy into the system. easy benching despite his pedigree. could even have an issue with the player's culture for all we know.

 

[Slats432]

I was referring to the claim that Kane was conveniently injured one extra game so Skinner could get his playoff game in. Go off tho

I thought it was a drive by at the Oilers circumventing the cap. If it wasn't I apologize.

 

[Spawn]

not defensive, not strong enough and didn't buy into the system. easy benching despite his pedigree. could even have an issue with the player's culture for all we know.

He bought into the system. He's just not one of the top 12 guys at the moment.

As @MessierII said, playoffs are only half over and the Oilers are rolling having won 8 of 9 games. If they hit some injuries or drop a couple games and need a change up to the forward group he might get another chance.

 

[Perfect_Drug]

If you watched the last 2 games against Vegas, its' clearly obvious the Oilers wanted to play them fast and physical with special attention to defensive detail.

Not every opponent will need that. Maybe they might need a skill injection with good hands in tight.

Arvidsson and Skinner are 32 years old former 30-40 goal scorers. If we need finesse and skill, we have them in our pocket. If Offense suddenly becomes hard to come by against Dallas/Peg, both of them will likely slot in.

But they're not fast physical players.

Kapanen came in after being benched for 9, and he was an absolute menace last game scoring the series clincher. Skinner+ Arvy are damn good options if we need to make adjustments.

 

[McShogun99]

I predicted during the regular season when Skinner was constantly in the press box that if the Oilers win the Cup then he’s scoring the clinching goal.

 

[robertmac43]

When he lifts the Cup it's going to be hilarious .

 

[Cool Hand Puke]

Might just be one of those "happy to be here" things.....as long as the Oilers keep winning and advancing, maybe Skinner's fine taking a seat.

I get the idea but that’s the wrong sentiment for an NHL player who hasn’t played in the playoffs before this year.

 

[Bourne Endeavor]

I suspect he'll get a game to prove he can contribute if Edmonton loses. Especially if someone else has a rough night. At the moment though, there's little reason to change a lineup that just went 9-1.

 

[HabsQC]

Would you rather be Jeff Skinner or Auston Matthews right now ?

 

[Dust]

Frederic and Kane getting back kind of pushed him out of the lineup. I still think we'll probably see him again at some point. The playoffs are a long physical grind, I could see him getting rotated back in as a fresher healthy body. It's hard to change the lineup when you're playing well and winning though.

 

[AnInjuredJasonZucker]

He was 3rd on the team in both goals and points per 60 with a positive EV goal differential while mostly on a line with offensive duds. The team is winning, and Kapanen's game was a good fit for what they needed, but a different coach would have found a successful role for Skinner on this team.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Well he's not very good, so that's why.

Be hilarious though of he plays 1000+ regular season games, 1 playoff game, but the Oilers win the cup

 

[AnInjuredJasonZucker]

Seems like they cared enough about Skinner to spare him the embarrassment of not even getting into a single playoff game.

That was a charity move to put him in game 1. And tbh it was the right thing to do.

It seems like you're implying in subsequent posts that Kane sitting out game 1 was to allow Skinner to get a "charity" game in. That is completely false. It's been reported that the league informed a few teams that they were watching them closely for cap circumvention. Kane sitting out game 1 was the "See - he's still injured!" placation for the league.

As others have mentioned, the whole thing is stupid, as it was never an issue when certain teams were doing it.

 

[seafoam]

Jeff Skinner is a certified cherry picker, those types don't have much success in the NHL playoffs unfortunately...

He has 1-2 bodies in front of him on Edmonton.