The Winnipeg Jets have signed goalie Stuart Skinner to a two-year contract with a $3.75M AAV.

Skinner finished the 2025-26 season with a 2.92 GAA and .888 SV% split between Edmonton and Pittsburgh. His numbers between the Oilers (23 GP, 2.83 GAA, .891 SV%) and the Penguins (27 GP, 2.99 GAA, .885 SV%) turned out to be very similar.

Although he may not be viewed as a true NHL starting goalie, Skinner has established himself as a goalie that can handle a heavy workload without injury time lost. Skinner has appeared in at least 50 games for each of the past four seasons. Only eight goalies have appeared in more games than Skinner over that span. Skinner also has won at least 25 games in three of those past four seasons. Maybe he is a better goalie in a timeshare situation, but…

Oh, we need to address the elephant in the room. That would be Connor Hellebuyck. Does this signing mean the end of Hellebuyck in Winnipeg? It provides at least a fallback option should the Jets be able to orchestrate a Hellebuyck trade. Receiving a goalie in return in a Hellebuyck trade isn't as urgent, at the very least.

Despite what any hockey insiders might suggest, Hellebuyck is more likely than not to be traded this offseason. However, if the Jets cannot find the right deal, a Hellebuyck-Skinner tandem currently occupies $12.25 million in cap space. That's not the worst number in the league. For example, the Canucks currently have $13 million in cap space taken up by Thatcher Demko and Kevin Lankinen. As well, the Rangers are paying Igor Shesterkin and newly acquired Joonas Korpisalo close to $15 million.

If Hellebuyck stays, he is still the starter. He will probably appear in fewer games (under 60), which could keep him fresh, as Skinner isn't being paid nearly $4 million to start 20 games. On the flipside, fewer starts mean fewer wins for Hellebuyck.

Eric Comrie, who has had multiple stints with the Jets as Hellebuyck's backup, is currently unsigned. If Hellebuyck was guaranteed to stay, the play might have been to re-sign Comrie unless the Jets wanted to upgrade their backup. Even so, there are less expensive options to accomplish that.

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Players this helps, in order:

Skinner (if Hellebuyck leaves)

Arturs Silovs

Sergei Murashov

Joel Blomqvist

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Players this hurts, in order:

Skinner (if Hellebuyck stays)

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Discuss the signing in this thread on the Forum.