The goalie ain’t goaltending—at least, that’s the feeling that has engulfed the Oilers fans when it comes to Stuart Skinner. Edmonton went head-to-head with the Colorado Avalanche on February 7, 2025, and let’s just say… it wasn’t pretty. Avalanche skated away with a wild 5-4 victory. And guess what? The biggest conversation coming out of that game ain’t about the offense, the defense, or even the refs. Nope, it’s all about Edmonton’s goaltending—or, as fans see it, the lack of it.

Coach Kris Knoblauch had seen enough after the first period, taking Skinner out and throwing Calvin Pickard into the fire with the team trailing 3-2. Skinner had already conceded three goals on only twelve shots against him, which meant that it was another difficult period for him. So, fans aren’t exactly lining up to give him a standing ovation.

The Edmonton Oilers’ official X account dropped the final score after the game, posting, “The #Oilers can’t find another equalizer & fall 5-4 to Colorado as we now head into the break.” The comment section? A full-on meltdown.

Oilers fans are not holding back and one of the fans went as far as to say, “The Edmonton oilers ain’t winning a Stanley cup with Stuart skinner in net dude is fuck*ng dog sh*t.” Yikes. The frustration is real. And, honestly? The numbers are not exactly putting the critics to silence. Skinner has lost two of his last three games while Pickard has been on a roll winning the last six of his starts and 10 of his last 11.

This was the first time that Knoblauch substituted Skinner during the game since that game against the Jets early in the season. Currently, Skinner has a GAA of 2.68 and a save percentage of 0.902 in 37 games as a starter, while Pickard has a GAA of 2.50 and a save percentage of 0.901 in 18 games as a starter. With fans already up in arms, it’s safe to say the goalie debate in Edmonton is just heating up. But hold up as this is just the beginning!

Fans lash out at Stuart Skinner

Oilers fans have grown tired of all the drama in the goaltending position, and the latest talk is? It is all about getting a serious reinforcement. One fan put it bluntly—“If Gibson is really committed to waiving his NMC to come to edmonton, then the oilers need to make that happen. give Skinner a legit goalie to battle with for the top spot, could do wonders for him.” And honestly? They might be onto something. Skinner has been struggling and even though Pickard has been the better of the two goalies in a way, none of them have been stellar. The Oilers desperately require a change in goal between the pipes, and the name that has recently surfaced is John Gibson.

Pierre LeBrun let the cat out of the bag in November when he suggested that Gibson would be interested in Edmonton. Yes, he may be struggling in Anaheim but let’s not forget that he’s playing for a team that has been inconsistent this season. Plug him into a more solid Oilers lineup? He just might rediscover his old magic. And after another shaky Skinner performance, fans are already manifesting the trade. One summed it up perfectly: “Oilers fans. Fire away after that Skinner second goal. My lord man. THANK GOD the forwards are scoring to make up for this shit. Hello Mr. Gibson!”

Oilers fans have been hanging on for dear life trying to defend Stuart Skinner, but even the most loyal supporters are starting to fold. One fan laid it out straight: “I’ve been defending Skinner for a while now, but my god, he’s been hot garbage lately.” And honestly? The numbers aren’t helping his case.

In the February 1 showdown against the Maple Leafs, Toronto lit up the scoreboard early, netting three goals in just over six minutes. Edmonton tried to come back but the Leafs managed to hang on for the victory and put an end to their losing ways. Skinner? He made 24 saves but the fans are not exactly calmed by it. So when people start saying, “It’s getting very difficult to defend Skinner,” can you really blame them?