Oilers Have Only One Play to Make with a Struggling Jeff Skinner

Skinner's Struggles

Jeff Skinner has been a disappointment for the Oilers since they acquired him from the Hurricanes in 2018. In 159 games with Edmonton, Skinner has scored just 34 goals and 74 points. He has been a healthy scratch on several occasions this season, and his ice time has dwindled.

Skinner's struggles are due to several factors. First, he is not a good skater. He is slow and does not have good agility. This makes it difficult for him to keep up with the play and get into scoring position.

Second, Skinner is not a good shooter. He does not have a quick release and his shot is not very accurate. This makes it difficult for him to score goals.

The Oilers Dilemma

The Oilers are in a tough spot with Skinner. They gave up a lot to acquire him, and he is still owed $6.9 million per season for the next two years.

The Oilers could try to trade Skinner, but there is no guarantee that they will be able to find a team that is willing to take on his contract. Even if they do find a trade partner, they are likely to have to give up a valuable asset in return.

The Oilers could also try to buyout Skinner's contract, but that would cost them $3.5 million in dead cap space for the next two years.

The Best Option

The best option for the Oilers is to give Skinner another chance. He is still only 29 years old and he has shown flashes of his old self this season.

The Oilers should give Skinner a chance to play on the top line with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. This will give him the opportunity to get more scoring chances and hopefully rediscover his scoring touch.

If Skinner can't produce on the top line, then the Oilers should consider trading him or buying out his contract. However, they should give him a chance to prove himself before they make that decision.