Newly signed San Jose Sharks forward Jeff Skinner didn’t have the best season with the Edmonton Oilers in 24-25.
After scoring just 13 goals, which is well below his career average of 25 per season, the Sharks winger isn’t worried about his play.
“I think that I have a lot left in the tank,” Skinner said on Monday. “I’m excited to start a new challenge. I think there’s some extra juice and extra energy that comes along with that, and I think I’ve got a lot left. When I don’t feel that way, I probably won’t play anymore, so I’m really excited to get going.”
Unlike in Edmonton, the Sharks will be giving Skinner ample opportunity in the top-six. Skinner told reporters that he understood that with the Oilers, there just wasn’t room for him higher in the lineup.
“Obviously, the way the year went for me in Edmonton there’s a lot of good players in similar situations and [who] had sort of similar skillsets,” Skinner said. “So, it’s just the way it worked out.”
San Jose Sharks forward Tyler Toffoli and Skinner played together as young kids. Skinner said the Sharks winger texted him after he signed.
But why the Sharks?
Skinner knows his opportunity in Edmonton wasn’t the best. He knows he can make the most of the opportunity in San Jose, which is what drew him to sign.
“As a player, you look for someone that’s interested in you or willing to give you an opportunity,” Skinner said. “I know there’s a lot of young talent there, and I’m looking forward to getting to know the guys. Helping contribute as much as I can to taking that next step.”
The newest Sharks winger didn’t run from the question that surrounded him for 14 years either. Before last season, Skinner had never played a single Stanley Cup Playoff game. At 33, joining a rebuilding Sharks franchise raised some eyebrows. Given Skinner’s age and lack of playoff appearances, there is only so long left in his career.
“Anything I can bring to the young guys in terms of a situation they may be going through that I may have personally experienced. Or may have seen someone go through, I think those kinds of things help,” Skinner said. “Maybe saying what I did, and it didn’t work, is a way of helping along someone that doesn’t have the benefit of that experience.”
Skinner’s experience with the Buffalo Sabres’ lack of playoff appearances may be exactly what the San Jose Sharks need. The Sharks brought a winning culture in with Nick Leddy, Dmitry Orlov, and Toffoli. Knowledge of what not to do and avoid falling into a perpetual rebuild is also a valuable experience to have.
Finally, Skinner complimented his potential linemate, Macklin Celebrini.
“I don’t think I was that talented or that prepared to come into the League as he was,” Skinner said.
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