When will Jeff Skinner’s luck change? Not today.
Today the struggling newcomer to the Edmonton Oilers got fined $2000 for the NHL diving/embellishment.
Said the NHL Hockey Ops: “NHL Rule 64 is designed to bring attention to and more seriously penalize players (and teams) who repeatedly dive and embellish in an attempt to draw penalties.”
Skinner was penalized for diving against Carolina on Oct. 22, then a month later against the New York Rangers on Nov. 23.
My take
1. These are hard times for proven NHL scorer Skinner, and the ignominy of this fine doesn’t help. As Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal noted, “This isn’t the kind of publicity an NHL player really wants.”
2. Skinner had a solid week or two early in the season, and earned some praise in Oil Country. Fans liked his nose for the net and deft hands. He had four points in his first five games, but just four points in his next 19.
3. Skinner was brought in to be a first or second line winger, but he’s played just 45 of his 306 even strength minutes with McDavid and just 60 minutes with Leon Draisaitl. His problem is that the Oil have scored just once and been scored on ten times (TEN TIMES!) when he’s been on the ice with the two ace attackers. Something isn’t working and part of it is Skinner’s lack of defensive prowess.
4. Skinner has made by far the highest rate of mistakes of any Oilers wingers on Grade A shots against, 1.32 per 15 minutes of ES time. By comparison, tough checking Mattias Janmark is at just 0.54 per 15. The next highest on the team for wingers after Skinner are Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, 1.14 per 15, and Vasili Podkolzin, 1.03 per 15.
5. As we all know, Skinner was brought in with much fanfare this summer, taking a discount $3 million deal for one year, though with a full no movement clause. If Skinner is to be traded this year, it will be on his own volition. Skinner had 24 goals and 22 assists last year in Buffalo, so he’s still got attacking skill. We’ve seen that attacking skill shine at times. He’s got value, but he’s also got steps to take as an Oiler.
6. When will Skinner’s luck change then? Two things have to happen. He’s got to focus first on fixing his defensive game, buttoning down things so when he’s put back with McDavid or Draisaitl he at least won’t be a major culprit on goals against. Second, he’s got to find some chemistry with some other forwards on the Oilers. Maybe he’s finding that just now with Adam Henrique and Mattias Janmark. In 28 minutes, a short sample size to be sure, they’re at one goals for, none against.
It’s a start.
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