Is Jeff Skinner's NHL career with the San Jose Sharks coming to an end? The veteran winger, aged 33 and on a one-year contract, is facing an uncertain future with the team. With the return of injured players and limited roster spots, Skinner's time with the Sharks may be running out.
Skinner has been a healthy scratch for five consecutive games and could be benched again on Tuesday when the Sharks face the Vancouver Canucks. This comes as the team prepares for a five-game road trip, during which several injured players, including forwards Kiefer Sherwood and Philipp Kurashev, and defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin, are expected to return.
The Sharks currently have only one available spot on their 23-man roster, after assigning winger Igor Chernyshov to the Barracuda. This leaves Skinner, who hasn't played in two weeks, in a precarious position. Skinner, with 712 points in 1,110 NHL games, signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Sharks in July. However, due to injuries and healthy scratches, he has only played in 32 of the team's 50 games.
Skinner has 13 points this season, averaging 12:21 ice time per game, primarily on the third line and as part of the second power play unit. Despite his experience, the Sharks are focusing on developing younger players, which may impact Skinner's role. When asked about his future, Skinner expressed awareness of the roster situation and the presence of young players, but emphasized his commitment to practicing and contributing to the team.
The Sharks' general manager, Mike Grier, hinted at potential waivers, indicating a need to adjust the roster. Skinner's last game was on January 11, where he recorded an assist in a loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. He has not played since, with Ryan Reaves replacing him in the lineup.
Despite the challenges, Skinner remains confident in his abilities. He had 82 points in 79 games for the Buffalo Sabres in 2022-23 and 88 points in 178 games with the Sabres, Oilers, and Sharks over the last two seasons. Skinner believes he can still contribute positively to the team and is grateful for his experience, which provides perspective in these situations.
