I’ve always liked Jeff Skinner. But I’ve worried about him this season. When Oilers CEO of Hockey Operations Jeff Jackson signed Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson last summer on July 1, I was ecstatic.

Maybe this Jeff Skinner thing can work out after all. It was almost to the point, with Skinner alternating between the fourth line and the press box last month, that it was fair to wonder if the Oilers should file this one under Failed Experiment and start working on a Plan B.

He also endured a few rocky seasons with the Sabres that ended in him being bought out. In his first year with the Edmonton Oilers, he’s gone from a high-profile free-agent signee to someone struggling to get into the lineup.

Skinner assisted on Draisaitl's league-leading 38th goal while putting his 10th of the year past netminder Arvid Soderblom. After the game, head coach Kris Knoblauch was asked about his game and he did not hold back his praise.

It has not been the type of season that the Edmonton Oilers had envisioned for free-agent signing Jeff Skinner.

Jeff Skinner (Edmonton Oilers) with a Goal vs. Chicago Blackhawks, 02/05/2025. Home; Super Bowl LIX; NFL; NBA; NHL; NCAAB; NCAAW; MLB; Daily Draw; Fantasy Sports; NCAAF; Soccer; T

Jeff Skinner’s tenure with the Edmonton Oilers hasn’t gone exactly as planned, but his recent performances suggest he’s determined to carve out a bigger role for himself.