LOS ANGELES — Jeff Skinner, a forward for the Edmonton Oilers, has marked a significant milestone by finally making his Stanley Cup playoff debut after an extensive 15-year career with 1,078 regular season games to his name.
This achievement was realized during Game 1 of the Oilers’ first-round series against the Los Angeles Kings, an event that concluded his lengthy wait to step onto the ice for the postseason, setting an NHL record for the longest delay to a playoff debut.
At nearly 33 years of age, Skinner has been a staple in the NHL since starting his professional journey at 18. Throughout his illustrious career, he has delivered six seasons with 30 goals and amassed a noteworthy 699 points, contributing significantly with 373 goals.
Despite his personal achievements, Skinner’s career was partially spent with teams that struggled to make playoff appearances. His initial eight seasons were with the Carolina Hurricanes, a team notorious for missing the playoffs throughout the 2010s, followed by six seasons with the Buffalo Sabres, who are enduring the longest current drought in the league with 14 playoff-less seasons.
Last summer, Skinner chose to sign with the Oilers as a free agent. Although he initially faced challenges in securing a stable position in the team’s lineup during the season’s first half, his performance saw notable improvements in the latter part, scoring 16 goals and ultimately securing his spot as the Oilers’ third-line left winger for the playoffs.
The Oilers’ players have expressed their joy in helping Skinner break his playoff dry spell. After the team secured its sixth consecutive playoff entry two weeks ago, a celebratory moment was shared when Connor McDavid awarded Skinner the player of the game honor.