Florida Panthers Should Avoid Pursuing Stuart Skinner This Offseason – Hockey Writers –

After being hampered by injuries this season, the Florida Panthers were skipped for the first time since 2019. Winning back-to-back Stanley Cups and reaching three straight Stanley Cup Finals comes at a cost, but the extended break should give them plenty of rest and recovery time.

In the meantime, the management must decide the future of the club between the pipes. Both forwards, Sergey Bobrovsky and Daniil Tarasov, will be free agents this summer, and it is unknown if they will return. It doesn’t help that there have been rumors that negotiations have not gone well with Bobrovsky when it comes to a contract extension. Because of this, it looks like there will be a new shelf in town when the smoke clears.

In accordance with AthleticPittsburgh Penguins and former Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner would be a good fit in South Florida (from ‘NHL free agents: One player each team should sign this offseason’, Athletic, May 16, 2026). But that’s exactly the kind of move general manager Bill Zito shouldn’t make.

Skinner Is Very Inconsistent Throughout His Career

Skinner has a reputation as one of the best goaltenders in the NHL. While he has played at an All-Star level here and there, his struggles are borderline season-killers. In his run to the Stanley Cup Finals with the Oilers in 2024, he won 11 of his first 16 games, including one shutout.

In his first three games against the Panthers in the Cup finals, he was Swiss cheese, allowing nine goals and finishing under a .900 save percentage (SV%). He then put together three great performances with a .970 SV%, allowing one goal in Game 5 and one goal in Game 6 with a .952 SV%.

The following season, he had three shutouts but only a .889 SV%. In his first postseason with the Penguins this season, he had a 3.08 goals against average (GAA) and .873 SV% through three games. His inconsistency will cause problems for the team, especially in the course of the season.

Skinner May Want a Promotion

Skinner signed his current contract through December 2022, a three-year extension worth $2.6 million annually. He will be a free agent this offseason, and after being a part of multiple playoff runs, he could ask for a raise. Now, there’s nothing wrong with wanting more, but Zito should spend that money on a better player or fill another need on the roster.

The Best Armament Options on the Market

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck may be looking for a new home after his brutal test when asked about his future with the team, and he may want to be reunited with his former head coach, Paul Maurice, and fellow gold medalist, Matthew Tkachuk, in Florida.

Minnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson will be a free agent again this summer. The Wild are expected to put their future in the hands of 23-year-old Jesper Wallstedt, so Gustavsson may look for a starting spot elsewhere.

Finally, Bradley Knowing is arguably the best catcher coming out of this draft, and the Panthers should consider selecting him should he fall into their laps.

Will Zito go?

Unless Zito is desperate, Skinner shouldn’t even be on his radar. While it would be a funny “if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em” thing, signing him could do more harm than good in the long run. The last thing this group needs is disunity.