Edmonton Oilers Reportedly Shopping Stuart Skinner and Vasily Podkolzin in Pursuit of Impact Roster Upgrades Amid Offseason Overhaul
Edmonton Oilers general manager Stan Bowman appears to be wasting no time reshaping his team following another heartbreaking Stanley Cup Final defeat. With the offseason in full swing, trusted sources around the league have indicated that two significant names—goaltender Stuart Skinner and winger Vasily Podkolzin—have emerged as potential trade chips as the Oilers explore options to upgrade their roster ahead of the 2025–26 NHL season. Both players are young, relatively affordable, and carry upside, but the club’s clear desire to win now could place them firmly in the crosshairs of major trade discussions.
Skinner, 26, has served as Edmonton’s starting goaltender during each of the last two playoff runs, backstopping the team all the way to consecutive appearances in the Stanley Cup Final. Despite moments of brilliance, his play has drawn criticism at times—especially in high-pressure postseason situations. What makes Skinner especially intriguing to rival general managers is his cap hit. Locked in at just $2.6 million per year, he represents one of the best values at his position league-wide, especially for a starter with meaningful playoff experience. In a cap-constrained environment, those kinds of contracts are gold, and insiders believe that if Edmonton chooses to pursue a more established or higher-performing goaltender, Skinner could be a central part of that deal.
According to team insiders and league analysts, Bowman is actively assessing his goaltending depth. While there’s been no formal declaration that Skinner is being shopped, reports indicate he has not been ruled out in any internal discussions. The message from the Oilers’ front office seems clear: if an elite goalie becomes available, and the price is right, Skinner could be moved as part of a package. The front office is reportedly weighing the value of stability and cost-efficiency against the desire to shore up the one position that arguably let them down at the worst possible moments.
Supporters of Skinner within the organization point to his workload, his development curve, and the support he had—or didn’t have—during deep playoff runs. They argue that the team’s overall defensive breakdowns in key games left Skinner exposed. However, others in the organization, including key decision-makers, remain frustrated by inconsistency and are hesitant to head into yet another high-stakes campaign without insurance—or possibly a true upgrade—at the position. While Skinner did show resilience by bouncing back after rough stretches during the regular season, the Oilers’ brass seems unwilling to gamble their Cup window on the hope that things improve without structural changes.
Meanwhile, 24-year-old winger Vasily Podkolzin has quietly become another player whose name has surfaced in trade circles. Acquired last year in a savvy depth move, Podkolzin found early chemistry with Leon Draisaitl, contributing both with and without the puck on a second line that often carried the load when Connor McDavid’s unit wasn’t clicking. In limited ice time, Podkolzin posted respectable scoring rates and helped control play in the offensive zone. Yet his role remained inconsistent, and stretches of quiet play raised questions about whether he has the ceiling to become a reliable top-six contributor in Edmonton.
Team officials reportedly remain high on Podkolzin’s long-term potential, but the urgency to win now may override that optimism. If the Oilers falter out of the gate next season—or if Podkolzin fails to take a clear step forward—he could become expendable, especially if Edmonton identifies a proven winger who fits better alongside Draisaitl or fills a hole on the third line. Podkolzin’s low cap hit and age make him attractive to rebuilding or retooling teams looking to develop high-upside talent without a large financial commitment. That combination may make him more valuable as a trade piece than as a developmental project for a contender like Edmonton.
Adding further intrigue is the fact that Bowman has repeatedly emphasized change as a theme since taking the reins. In post-Final press conferences, he stated openly that the current roster would not return unchanged. “We need some different players,” Bowman said, when asked whether the group had enough to win a championship as currently constructed. While the core of McDavid, Draisaitl, Zach Hyman, and Evan Bouchard is expected to remain intact, nearly every other name is believed to be on the table if it helps Edmonton upgrade in key areas like goaltending, bottom-six scoring, or defensive depth.
Publicly, Bowman and head coach Kris Knoblauch have offered support to both Skinner and Podkolzin, avoiding any outright criticism. However, the tone of their recent interviews has suggested that change is not only likely but necessary. Privately, it appears the team is ready to listen to offers. League sources say that while the Oilers were quiet on the trade front earlier in the summer, they’ve since ramped up exploratory talks with several teams—including those who may be parting with veteran goaltenders or forwards due to cap issues or rebuild transitions.
Skinner’s trade value may be peaking. For a team looking to offload a high-salary veteran, the prospect of acquiring a cost-controlled, playoff-experienced starter in his prime years could be too good to pass up. Some of the names being floated as potential upgrades include goaltenders with playoff pedigree or elite regular-season numbers—players who could come at a premium but would give the Oilers a greater sense of security heading into the spring. Any trade involving Skinner would almost certainly include other pieces, such as a mid-round draft pick or a secondary prospect, but the savings alone could justify such a move for Edmonton.
The same logic could apply to Podkolzin, albeit at a different level. He likely wouldn’t be the centerpiece in a blockbuster deal, but in the right scenario, he could be a key part of a depth upgrade. For example, if the Oilers are targeting a gritty middle-six winger or a penalty kill specialist with playoff experience, Podkolzin could be the type of young asset that sweetens the offer. Given his age and flashes of offensive upside, it’s unlikely Bowman would move him for anything less than a clear fit or a reliable veteran contributor who could help immediately.
The Oilers’ situation is complicated by salary cap realities. Several recent roster decisions, including the departures of Evander Kane and Viktor Arvidsson, were directly tied to creating room for other moves. Edmonton has limited flexibility and a finite window with McDavid and Draisaitl both in their primes. That reality places a premium on every dollar spent and forces Bowman to balance short-term competitiveness with long-term planning.
In this context, trading Skinner or Podkolzin—or both—may be less about dissatisfaction and more about strategic optimization. Both players offer value. Both players can help an NHL roster today. But neither may be irreplaceable if the right upgrade becomes available. The decision will come down to whether the Oilers can extract enough value in return to justify moving them.
Among fans and media, the idea of trading Skinner is controversial. Some argue that Edmonton is finally developing internal goaltending talent and should not cut ties so quickly. Others believe that Skinner has had enough opportunities and has not yet proven he can carry the load through four playoff rounds against elite competition. The truth, as usual, likely lies somewhere in between. Skinner is a competent and sometimes excellent goalie—but if Edmonton can land a clear upgrade, they would be foolish not to explore the option.
Podkolzin has fewer defenders, but also fewer critics. Most see him as a work-in-progress with modest potential. The main concern with trading him is that Edmonton lacks high-end wing depth beyond the top line, and moving a cost-effective piece could lead to regret if the replacement underperforms. Still, the Oilers are clearly in win-now mode, and they can’t afford to wait on potential for too long if production stalls.
Looking ahead, the Oilers are expected to be aggressive throughout the remainder of the offseason and possibly into the early portion of the regular season. If injuries occur, or if the team struggles to find consistency in goal or on the wings, Skinner and Podkolzin could be the first names revisited in trade conversations. Bowman has proven willing to make tough decisions in pursuit of the Cup, and neither loyalty nor sentiment appears to be guiding his hand.
What remains to be seen is how the market responds. There is no shortage of teams in need of goaltending, and Podkolzin could easily be seen as a buy-low candidate by other general managers. If trade talks intensify, it may only be a matter of time before the Oilers pull the trigger.
For now, both Skinner and Podkolzin remain Oilers. But make no mistake: their futures in Edmonton are anything but guaranteed.
