Jeff Skinner Signs One-Year Deal with San Jose Sharks for $3M

The San Jose Sharks have signed free agent forward Jeff Skinner to a one-year deal worth $3 million. Skinner, 33, is fresh off a one-year stint with the Edmonton Oilers, where he had 16 goals and 13 assists in 72 regular-season games and added a goal and an assist in five postseason games. In 15 NHL seasons with the Hurricanes, Sabres, and Oilers, Skinner has 373 goals and 326 assists in 1,078 games.

The San Jose Sharks have inked a one-year, $3 million contract with free agent forward Jeff Skinner. The 33-year-old, who spent the 2024-25 season with the Edmonton Oilers, brings a wealth of experience and scoring prowess to the Sharks' lineup.

Skinner, who was selected by the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round of the 2010 NHL Draft, has amassed 699 points (373 goals, 326 assists) over 1,078 regular-season games with the Hurricanes, Buffalo Sabres, and Oilers. In his final season with the Oilers, he tallied 29 points (16 goals, 13 assists) in 72 regular-season games and added a goal and an assist in five Stanley Cup Playoff games. His performance during the playoffs, despite limited ice time, caught the attention of Sharks General Manager Mike Grier [1].

"The scouts said he still has the quickness in his game and the smarts and the competitiveness and knows where to go to score and is still hungry to score," Grier said. "It’s not always easy to jump into a team that just went on a long run and went to the Stanley Cup Final to find your kind of niche there. Sometimes you’re in a situation where guys are used to playing with certain players and they like playing with certain players, so it’s sometimes hard to find your niche and there’s not a lot of power-play time that goes around either. But they still saw a lot of things that they liked throughout the season, and even in the playoff games he played, the hunger and the knowhow and the smarts was all there, so we’re excited to have him."

Skinner's addition to the Sharks' roster comes as the team looks to bolster its top-six forward group. The Sharks have shown a commitment to building a competitive team around their young talent, and Skinner's experience and proven goal-scoring ability could be a valuable asset [2].

The Sharks' move to sign Skinner is a strategic one, aimed at enhancing their offensive capabilities while also providing a veteran presence to help guide the team's younger players. With the Sharks having made the playoffs in the 2024-25 season, the addition of a seasoned forward like Skinner could be a significant boost to their chances of success in the upcoming campaign.

References:
[1] https://www.nhl.com/news/jeff-skinner-signs-1-year-contract-with-san-jose-sharks
[2] https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/players/1770990/jeff-skinner/