Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner feels lighter and quicker as camp begins
EDMONTON - After shedding some weight over the summer, Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner is hoping the new, lighter version of himself will see more success on the ice and less criticism from the team’s fanbase.
EDMONTON - After shedding some weight over the summer, Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner is hoping the new, lighter version of himself will see more success on the ice and less criticism from the team’s fanbase.
The 26-year-old Edmonton native came into training camp at 215 pounds - 10 pounds lighter than last year - and said he wants to see improvement in his personal statistics.
“It鈥檚 giving me a real opportunity to kick some butt and make sure those numbers are (better),” Skinner said.
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Skinner’s regular-season career goals-against average is 2.73 with a .906 save percentage. In the playoffs, however, those numbers rise to 2.88 and fall to .893, making him a target of fan and media criticism.
While the result of the weight loss on his play remains to be seen, Skinner said his on-ice performance wasn鈥檛 he reason he dropped the pounds.
鈥淚t was for my longevity, for my health,鈥 he said after a spirited first day of training camp. 鈥淚 want to be playing in this league for a long time, so just trying to stay as healthy as possible. Thinking about the game and the way that鈥檚 best for myself personally.
鈥淚鈥檓 still big. I don鈥檛 think guys will notice I鈥檓 smaller. I do feel lighter, maybe a little quicker.鈥
Skinner was one of several players who said there鈥檚 a different, more exciting vibe to this training camp.聽
鈥淭hings are really light, we鈥檙e having a good time and already we鈥檙e enjoying each other鈥檚 company,鈥 he said after the first on-ice session.
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鈥淭his year I feel like everybody鈥檚 coming in and we鈥檙e just ready to rock and roll,” he added.
Those sentiments were echoed by superstar Connor McDavid. He said there was noticeable motivation and excitement that led to a high-paced, competitive practice Thursday.
That feeling, he hopes, leads to a strong start to the season to put the team is a good spot right from opening night.
鈥淚t鈥檚 important,鈥 he said of the early-season results. 鈥淐oming down the stretch last season, getting hit a bit by the injury bug, if you鈥檙e not in a good spot, it鈥檚 tough.
鈥淭here were times last year things were a little stale. You kind of have one eye looking ahead to the playoffs, so you can have some monotonous days and I felt that last year.
鈥淪o we want to put ourselves in a good spot right off the opener.鈥
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 18, 2025.聽
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