Stuart Skinner could be on the move again. With the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline just a few days away, the Pittsburgh Penguins goalie has landed on Chris Johnston’s trade bait board at The Athletic.
Since being acquired by the Penguins, Skinner has appeared to settle into his new tandem role with Arturs Silovs. However, if the Penguins feel they can get a good return for him, they may decide to trade him and call up Joel Blomqvist or Sergei Murashov to serve as the backup to Silovs.
The main reason for Skinner being placed on the trade board at The Athletic is because he is an unrestricted free agent. And since the Penguins are not fully out of their rebuild or retool, they need to consider whether they want to part with him or use him as their own rental. It does make sense for them to try and sell high since he has put up some solid numbers after being traded. The biggest challenge for Kyle Dubas and the rest of the Penguins’ front office is that they are currently in a playoff spot and have a legitimate chance of staying there and clinching a berth.
On Johnston’s trade bait board, he had this to say about Skinner:
The pending unrestricted free agent has put up solid numbers in Pittsburgh since coming over from Edmonton in a December trade, producing 8.05 saves above expected in the span, per Evolving-Hockey. Skinner is a positionally sound goaltender who excels at remaining square to the shooter. He’s also got plenty of big-game experience from consecutive runs to the Stanley Cup Final with the Oilers.
(from ‘NHL trade board 8.0: Big names abound, but will the deadline end up being a dud?,’ The Athletic, March 2, 2026).
If the Penguins elect to trade Skinner, it should not be overly difficult to move him. He carries a cap hit of $2.6 million, which would be manageable for a contending team looking for a reliable backup. Skinner has also shown that he can handle a starter’s workload, and if he were to land behind a strong defensive core, it could help him produce even better results.
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If he does become available over the next few days, teams like the Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, or even the Anaheim Ducks could make sense as potential suitors.
At this point, Skinner likely needs to accept that he is viewed as part of a tandem or a strong number two behind an elite starter until he fully re-establishes himself as a clear-cut starter. Ideally, the Penguins should consider holding on to him for the remainder of the season. He and Silovs have formed a steady duo that has helped push the Penguins back into a playoff position. Even if he walks in free agency, keeping him as their own rental may be the smarter move instead of flipping him for another draft pick in one of the next three NHL drafts.
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