Skinner expects to be 'a lot better' for Oilers this season

CALGARY --Stuart Skinner is not going to rest on the laurels of his stellar rookie season with the Edmonton Oilers.

Skinner led rookie goalies in wins (29) and games (50) and was third in save percentage (.914), earning him a trip to the NHL All-Star Game and a second-place finish in voting for the Calder Trophy.

"I know for my first season, it honestly felt like I was going into something I was already ready for," Skinner said before participating in the Rogers Legends of Hockey Charity Skins Game on Saturday. "It felt pretty good just going in there right away, and the guys made me feel at home and made me feel like a big part of the family right away.

"I know for my rookie year it seems everything went pretty good and pretty smoothly, but I learned a lot of lessons. I've got much, much better to bring next year, and hopefully I'm going to do that my whole career. I know it was a good year, but I know I've got a lot better."

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Skinner's emergence came after Jack Campbell, who signed a five-year, $25 million contract to be Edmonton's No. 1 on July 13, 2022, set NHL career worsts in goals-against average (3.41) and save percentage (.888).

However, Skinner said Campbell remained supportive throughout their role reversal.

"[Campbell] was helping me so much all season long, even when I was doing well," said Skinner, who signed a three-year, $7.8 million contract ($2.6 million average annual value) on Dec. 19, 2022. "If I let in a squeaker I'd go back to the bench and he'd be so supportive of just helping me get back to my game. When I was playing well, even if I played a couple games in a row, he was awesome about it and always taking me out to dinners and always congratulating me on my successes, as I was doing for him. We have a really good relationship.

"As a first-year goalie tandem, to get that close just in one year ... I know we've got at least three more years together ... it's going to be a blast. He's one of the nicest guys in the NHL. He was awesome for me and I'm excited to keep on growing that relationship."

That stability will be key for Edmonton (50-23-9), which finished second in the Pacific Division but was eliminated by the eventual Stanley Cup champion for the second straight season. The Oilers lost in six games to the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference Second Round last season and were swept by the Colorado Avalanche in the conference final in 2022.

If the Oilers are to get over the hump this season, Skinner knows he will have to play better. Last postseason, he went 5-6 with a 3.68 goals-against average and .883 save percentage.

"I think success in season two is just sticking to who I am and just trying to get better every single day," Skinner said. "Obviously, I want to go in there and I want to win the Stanley Cup. That's the ultimate goal for the Edmonton Oilers this year and hopefully for the next few years. I'm going to do my best to bring that role of stopping as many pucks as I can and just doing what I need to do as a teammate for the team.

"Come in and be the rock Edmonton needs and be the best goalie I can possibly be."