The future of veteran winger Jeff Skinner with the San Jose Sharks is uncertain, and the writing might be on the wall. At 33 years old and with a one-year contract, Skinner's time with the team could be limited, especially as the Sharks prepare to welcome back injured players and have limited roster spots available.
Skinner has been a healthy scratch for five consecutive games, and with the upcoming return of forwards Kiefer Sherwood and Philipp Kurashev, and defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin, his position on the team is precarious. The Sharks currently have just one spot available on their 23-man roster, and Skinner, who hasn't played in two weeks, may find himself on the outside looking in.
With a career total of 712 points in over 1,100 NHL games, Skinner signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Sharks as a free agent last July. However, due to injuries and being scratched, he has only played in 32 of the team's 50 games this season. When asked about his situation, Skinner acknowledged the roster dynamics and his role within the team, stating that he is not in control and must focus on practicing and playing.
The Sharks have already made moves to free up roster spots, such as putting veteran defenseman Nick Leddy on waivers to accommodate the return of Vincent Desharnais. General Manager Mike Grier has hinted at the possibility of further waivers, indicating the team's need to trim down to the required number of players.
Skinner's last game was on January 11th, where the Sharks suffered a 7-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. Despite contributing an assist in that game, he was replaced by Ryan Reaves for the next match and hasn't played since.
"It's all about numbers," explained Warsofsky. "Skinner gave us some solid minutes and played well when he was last in the lineup. We have some young players we want to develop and give opportunities to. There's a lot of hockey left, and we need to see these guys grow."
Skinner has 13 points this season and averages 12:21 minutes of ice time per game, primarily playing on the third line and as part of the second power play unit. When asked to assess his year, Skinner, in his 16th NHL season, expressed his belief that he was finding his rhythm but acknowledged the difficulty in fully evaluating his performance.
Skinner has experience with being scratched, having faced similar situations last season with the Edmonton Oilers. However, he emphasized that this is a different scenario, as the Oilers were a veteran team chasing the Stanley Cup, whereas the Sharks are focused on developing and building around their younger players.
"I've seen players in my position before, and I'm no different from anyone who's played in the league. Experience gives you perspective on the bigger picture. Everyone works hard, practices, and supports each other. Having been around, I can rely on that experience."
Skinner and Kurashev practiced on Sunday but were not among the 12 forwards on the Sharks' main four lines. Skinner believes he can still perform at the NHL level, citing his recent positive contributions and his confidence in his abilities.
"I feel like I was contributing positively to the team in my last few games. I haven't forgotten how to play, and I'm confident I can contribute at this level."
And this is where it gets interesting. With the Sharks' focus on developing their younger players, Skinner's future with the team is uncertain. Will he be traded? Will he continue to be a healthy scratch? Or will he find a way to contribute and earn his spot back? The next few games could be crucial in determining Skinner's fate with the San Jose Sharks. What do you think? Should the Sharks keep Skinner, or is it time to move on? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
