Stuart Skinner Has Learned From His Previous Mistakes
It's easy to lose track of, but Stuart Skinner doesn't have the same experience level as many of his teammates. The Oilers netminder finished second in Calder Trophy voting last year for the NHL's top rookie. While many other players have been afforded a more forgiving perspective, people quickly bury Skinner whenever something goes south. Still, it's evident from his current form that the young goalie has learned from those mistakes.
Last year, Skinner was relegated to a reserve role in the postseason after struggling through the first round of the playoffs. Never mind that he was 24 in his first entire NHL season and thrust into the starter's role. Then, a sub-optimal performance in Round 2 resulted in Skinner getting re-acquainted with the bench this year.
But through all those trials and tribulations, Skinner has become a more confident netminder. He's led the Oilers to the Stanley Cup Final in just his second season in the NHL, posting a 91.7% save percentage in the Western Conference Final.
Say what you want about the kid, but he's taken steps that all of the previous Oilers goalies haven't.
