Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch made the surprising decision to healthy scratch forward Jeff Skinner today, and after the game explained his choice.

Skinner has struggled with the Edmonton Oilers, partly because of the fact that Coach Knoblauch seemingly refuses to give him a chance.

After the game, Knoblauch framed the decision to scratch Skinner more as a way to get Derek Ryan into the lineup. However, if Knoblauch really thinks Ryan is better than Skinner, it’s clear the latter has no future in the lineup.

Oilers Coach Knoblauch Bluntly Explains Decision to Healthy Scratch Jeff Skinner | Yardbarker

»Derek’s been playing really well for us before christmas. We trust him in a lot of situations. We had a lead late in the game and he’s on the ice. That’s kind of the role he has, and we trust him. He comes out, even after playing well, and we don’t want him out of the lineup too long. Somebody had to come out, and I think a lot of the guys have been playing well.»

– Coach Knoblauch

 

It’s telling that Knoblauch stresses a lot of the players are playing well, because it once again indicates that he believes Skinner is not playing to an NHL standard.

Coach Knoblauch Calls Out Jeff Skinner Again, Trade Seeming Imminent

Jeff Skinner has only scored 6 goals and 12 points in 35 games this year, a far cry from the initial expectations this offseason that he could score near 40 goals.

He’s got his weaknesses defensively that makes Knoblauch weary of giving him any increased opportunities. It’s possible that Skinner just was never a good fit for this roster, and for this coach.

Former Oiler Jason Strudwick has theorized that Skinner and the team could work together on a trade to get him to another contending team, and clearing his $3M off their salary cap.

It’s truly shocking that the Jeff Skinner experiment in Edmonton has deteriorated so quickly, and really barely had life to begin with.

 

Hopefully the Oilers can move his money off the books, and find a player better suited to making an identity on the fourth line. As a free agent this summer, Skinner deserves a chance on another team to salvage his season and earn another contract, too.