Maybe this Jeff Skinner thing can work out after all. It was almost to the point, with Skinner alternating between the fourth line and the press box last month, that it was fair to wonder if the Oilers should file this one under Failed Experiment and start working on a Plan B.

He also endured a few rocky seasons with the Sabres that ended in him being bought out. In his first year with the Edmonton Oilers, he’s gone from a high-profile free-agent signee to someone struggling to get into the lineup.

Skinner assisted on Draisaitl's league-leading 38th goal while putting his 10th of the year past netminder Arvid Soderblom. After the game, head coach Kris Knoblauch was asked about his game and he did not hold back his praise.

With his recent strong two-way play, Oilers forward Jeff Skinner has been turning heads and earned his spot on the wing with Leon Draisaitl.

Jeff Skinner (Edmonton Oilers) with a Goal vs. Chicago Blackhawks, 02/05/2025. Home; Super Bowl LIX; NFL; NBA; NHL; NCAAB; NCAAW; MLB; Daily Draw; Fantasy Sports; NCAAF; Soccer; T

Few stories have been as well documented in Edmonton this season as Jeff Skinner’s. After the Buffalo Sabres bought out the final three years of his contract this summer, Skinner was quick to sign a one-year deal with the Oilers.

Jeff Skinner’s tenure with the Edmonton Oilers hasn’t gone exactly as planned, but his recent performances suggest he’s determined to carve out a bigger role for himself.