The Edmonton Oilers have traded goaltender Stuart Skinner, defenseman Brett Kulak and a 2029 second-round pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins for goaltender Tristan Jarry and forward Samuel Poulin. In a separate deal, Edmonton acquired defenseman Spencer Stastney from the Nashville Predators for a 2027 third-round pick. Oilers GM Stan Bowman cited the need for a change in net as the motivation behind the blockbuster move.
The NHL trade deadline may still be months away, but the Edmonton Oilers made a significant splash on December 12, 2025, by swapping starting goaltenders with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Edmonton sent 27-year-old Stuart Skinner, who has a 11-8-4 record with a 2.83 goals-against average and .891 save percentage in 23 games this season, along with 31-year-old defenseman Brett Kulak (two assists in 31 games) and a second-round pick in the 2029 NHL Draft to Pittsburgh. In return, the Oilers received 30-year-old Tristan Jarry, who is 9-3-1 with a 2.66 GAA and .909 SV% in 14 games (13 starts), and 24-year-old forward Samuel Poulin, who has 20 points (nine goals, 11 assists) in 22 AHL games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season and no points in two NHL appearances.
Oilers general manager Stan Bowman emphasized the strategic shift, stating, "It’s not so much a comment on Stuart Skinner, it's just really maybe time for something different here." He praised Jarry's consistency over his career, noting his five-year, $26.875 million contract provides stability through the 2027-28 season. Skinner, a pending unrestricted free agent on a $2.6 million AAV deal, helped Edmonton reach the Stanley Cup Final in each of the past two seasons, posting 26-22 records with a 2.88 GAA and .893 SV% in 50 playoff games.
Pittsburgh GM Kyle Dubas highlighted Skinner's postseason pedigree, saying, "You can't put a price on that type of experience." The Penguins, sitting fifth in the Metropolitan Division at 14-8-7, add depth with Kulak's versatility—he has 127 points in 611 career games and 24 in 98 playoffs—and aim to end a three-year playoff drought.
In the secondary trade, Edmonton bolstered its blue line by acquiring 25-year-old Spencer Stastney from Nashville for a 2027 third-round pick. Stastney has nine points (one goal, eight assists) in 30 games this season, averaging 14:52 of ice time. Bowman described him as a mobile, penalty-killing defenseman similar to Kulak but younger, helping fill the gap left by the veteran. Poulin is expected to report to Edmonton's AHL affiliate in Bakersfield, where his size (6-foot-2, 227 pounds) and skill could accelerate his development.
The moves address Edmonton's goaltending struggles—the team ranks seventh-worst in goals allowed per game at 3.39—while providing Pittsburgh with experienced options alongside Arturs Silovs. Jarry could debut for Edmonton against Toronto on December 13.
