The Pittsburgh Penguins acquired goaltender Stuart Skinner, defenseman Brett Kulak and a 2029 second‑round pick from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Tristan Jarry and Samuel Poulin; Penguins GM Kyle Dubas completed the deal without retaining any of Jarry’s salary, a notable development given past difficulties in moving the netminder.
The morning trade with Edmonton is both a roster reset and a statement of intent for Pittsburgh. Jarry’s tenure in Pittsburgh has been a roller coaster: flashes of elite play interspersed with prolonged stretches of inconsistency that left the club searching for steadier night‑to‑night goaltending. That volatility, combined with cap and roster considerations, made the swap attractive; what made the deal especially striking was that GM Kyle Dubas moved Jarry without retaining any salary, something that seemed all but impossible a season ago. With Skinner arriving, the Penguins are expected to prioritize consistency in net and hand him a #1 workload while they reconfigure depth behind him.
Stuart Skinner
Stuart Skinner arrives in Pittsburgh as a 27‑year‑old goaltender with established NHL starting experience and playoff exposure. Drafted by Edmonton in 2017, Skinner developed into the Oilers’ primary netminder and was a central figure during their recent deep postseason runs; his ability to handle starter’s minutes and playoff pressure is a key reason Pittsburgh pursued him. Skinner brings youth, a track record of handling heavy workloads, and the kind of steadiness the Penguins hope will reduce the variance they saw with Jarry. Expect Pittsburgh to lean on Skinner immediately while integrating him into a team that still features high‑end scoring and newly found playoff expectations.
Brett Kulak
Brett Kulak is a veteran, right‑shot defenseman known for his steady, low‑risk defensive game and penalty‑killing reliability. Kulak has been a dependable top‑four option around the league, valued for positioning, efficient puck movement and the ability to play in a variety of defensive situations. His addition gives Pittsburgh immediate blue‑line depth, special‑teams competence and a veteran presence to mentor younger defensemen. Kulak’s contract and cap hit were part of the trade calculus, but his on‑ice steadiness and versatility are the primary reasons he was included in the package to the Penguins.
What this means for Pittsburgh:
The Penguins traded a high‑variance veteran in Jarry for a younger, playoff‑tested starter in Skinner, a reliable defenseman in Kulak, and a 2029 second‑round pick, a package that prioritizes consistency, depth, and a future asset as Pittsburgh looks to remain competitive in a tight Metropolitan Division.
photo courtesy (Edmonton Journal)