Pittsburgh Hockey Insider has no direct affiliation to the Pittsburgh Penguins, NHL or NHLPA
Stuart Skinner trade buzz grows as Penguins weigh rental value before deadline
Photo credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Frank Seravalli says Stuart Skinner could move before the NHL trade deadline, and it screams rental pressure.
Pittsburgh Penguins fans can feel the clock ticking.
Skinner is a pending UFA, and that "no strings attached" part matters when teams get desperate for saves.
His cap hit sits at $2.6 million, so he fits as a plug-in upgrade without a full roster rebuild.
The Penguins got him on December 12, 2025, in the Tristan Jarry swap, so this could turn into a quick flip if Kyle Dubas wants futures.
Skinner's 2025-26 line is sitting around a 2.74 GAA and .892 save percentage, which explains why opinions are split.
Re goalie market: "Stuart Skinner...he's a goaltender that I can see moving between now and [the deadline] because he is a pending UFA with no strings attached."
- Frank Seravalli
- Frank Seravalli
This isn't about "goalie wins," it's about whether his crease reads hold up when the slot gets chaotic.
If you're a contender, the pitch is simple: a 1B option between the pipes, a guy who can survive a heavy night and let your starter breathe.
If you're Pittsburgh, the pitch is colder: cash in before he walks for nothing.
Stuart Skinner puts the Pittsburgh Penguins in a bind
Fans are stuck in that familiar spot, wanting a clean plan but expecting deadline whiplash.
The on-ice fit for a buyer is about structure, keep rebounds quiet, protect the back door, and let Skinner play "set and square" instead of scrambling.
The cap math is the real lure, $2.6 million can slide under the ceiling even for teams shopping late.
And if retention enters the chat, the return gets bigger fast, because rentals with manageable money always get calls.
Thursday night's game suddenly matters more, because every shaky goal is a highlight for the wrong scouts.
Friday, March 6 is the drop-dead date, and this feels like the kind of crease domino that can fall in the final hour.
Also read on HockeyUnplugged :
Kyle Dubas updates Sidney Crosby recovery as Pittsburgh Penguins weigh deadline moves
Kyle Dubas updates Sidney Crosby recovery as Pittsburgh Penguins weigh deadline moves
| POLL | ||
MARS 5|184 ANSWERS Stuart Skinner trade buzz grows as Penguins weigh rental value before deadline Should the Pittsburgh Penguins trade Stuart Skinner before the NHL trade deadline? | ||
| Yes | 72 | 39.1 % |
| No | 112 | 60.9 % |
| List of polls | ||