The San Jose Sharks have officially announced the signing of veteran forward Jeff Skinner. The team confirmed on Friday that Skinner has agreed to a straightforward, one-year deal valued at $3 million for the upcoming season.
Skinner joins the Sharks after spending the most recent 2024-25 season with the Edmonton Oilers. During his time in Edmonton, the 33-year-old forward provided depth scoring, recording 29 points through 16 goals and 13 assists over 72 regular-season games.
Notably, Skinner`s tenure with the Oilers also saw him participate in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in his extensive 15-year NHL career. While his playoff appearance was limited to five games, contributing one goal and one assist as the Oilers reached the Final, it marked a significant milestone in his professional journey.
Originally drafted seventh overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2010, Skinner burst onto the scene as a rookie, capturing the Calder Trophy in 2010-11 with an impressive 63 points (31 goals, 32 assists). He spent a significant portion of his career with the Hurricanes before being traded to the Buffalo Sabres ahead of the 2018-19 season.
His time in Buffalo featured notable offensive peaks, including a career-best 40 goals during his first season with the team. Skinner also reached a new personal high in points in 2022-23, tallying 82 (35 goals, 47 assists). His departure from the Sabres came via a contract buyout in the summer of 2024, leading him to sign with Edmonton.
Over his career spanning 1,078 games with the Hurricanes, Sabres, and Oilers, Skinner has accumulated 699 points from 373 goals and 326 assists.
For the San Jose Sharks, this one-year agreement represents a low-risk acquisition of a player with a proven, albeit sometimes inconsistent, ability to find the back of the net. The short term provides flexibility for both the club and the player, allowing Skinner to potentially demonstrate his value while offering San Jose an experienced presence capable of contributing offensive depth.
Joining the Sharks adds a fourth NHL uniform to Skinner`s resume, providing him a new chapter and the Sharks with a veteran forward on a concise, one-year commitment.
