Jeff Skiner leaves the Oilers, signs with division rival as free agent!

With free agency under way for over a week, forward Jeff Skinner was still waiting for a contract, with fans in Edmonton hoping he would return as an Oiler. On Friday however, the San Jose Sharks announced that they had signed Skinner a one-year contract worth $3 million.

Last season, Skinner played for the Oilers and recorded 29 points (16 goals and 13 assists) in 72 games during the regular season. Then, for the first time in his 15-year NHL career, Skinner took part in the postseason, but was limited to five games with one goal and one assist as the Oilers reached the Stanley Cup Final. Several fans across the league felt sorry for Skinner for not getting a better chance in the playoffs.

The veteran forward was originally selected by Carolina in the 2010 NHL Draft (first round, seventh overall). He went on to capture the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year after recording 63 points (31 goals, 32 assists) during the 2010-11 season.

Ahead of the 2018-19 campaign, Skinner was traded to the Buffalo Sabres and scored a career-high 40 goals during that season. After hitting 63 points on three separate occasions, Skinner bested his single-season tally with 82 points (35 goals, 47 assists) back in 2022-23.

The Sabres bought Skinner out of the rest of his contract in the summer of 2024, and he became an unrestricted free agent, signing in Edmonton for the past season.

He has put up a total of 699 points (373 goals, 326 assists) in 1,078 career games with the Hurricanes, Sabres and Oilers.

Skinner now gets to add to his stat sheet in San Jose.