Veteran Oilers ahead Jeff Skinner set to snap 15-season playoff drought

Jeff Skinner has skilled so much over 1,078 NHL video games. The power and pleasure of a playoff sport, even though, have eluded him thus far.

That will trade Monday when Skinner and the Edmonton Oilers take the ice for Game 1 in their first-round sequence towards the Los Angeles Kings. 

The likelihood to move on a post-season run is a part of what drew Skinner to Edmonton as a unfastened agent final summer time. 

“Obviously coming right here, my first 12 months right here, and I knew that we have got an attractive just right workforce, we would like to check out and be part of it,” the veteran ahead mentioned Sunday. 

“And, it is a just right feeling. You more or less paintings towards it the entire 12 months. So all of us labored in combination towards it, and now we attempt and get rolling.”

Drafted 7th total by means of the Hurricanes in 2010, Skinner spent the primary 8 seasons of his profession as a part of Carolina’s rebuild. 

He used to be dealt to Buffalo in 2019 and spent six years with a Sabres facet that hasn’t performed a post-season sport since 2011. 

No one is going into the NHL season pondering they are going to leave out the playoffs — particularly 14 years in a row, Skinner mentioned. 

“Every 12 months you more or less really feel like getting into the 12 months, like each different workforce, you are feeling like you have got an opportunity,” he said. “And you attempt to paintings towards your function and you return up quick and you do not get to enjoy it. And then, clearly, simply stay plugging away.”

Never earlier than has an NHL participant gave the impression in 1,078 regular-season video games and no longer a unmarried playoff sport.

The feat hasn’t long gone omitted by means of Skinner’s teammates.

Oilers captain Connor McDavid passed the 32-year-old ahead the workforce’s player-of-the sport award — a wrestling belt — within the locker room after Edmonton clinched it is post-season berth. Video of the instant displays Skinner’s huge smile and laughter as his teammates applaud.

“That’s a long time. That’s a great career for most,” McDavid informed newshounds. “So the fact that he’s never played in a playoff game is unique. Obviously, excited for him to get that opportunity. We know how fun it is. … It’s the best hockey, it’s so fun. So glad that he’ll get that experience.”

Skinner performed 72 regular-season video games for Edmonton, contributing 16 objectives and 13 assists. 

The totals have been neatly off the career-high 82 issues he registered with the Sabres in 2022-23, however Skinner believes the second one part of his first season with the Oilers used to be higher than the primary. 

“It’s kind of a day-by-day thing, and you try and sort of keep improving maybe in different parts of the season,” he mentioned. “You go through slumps. You go through sort of good stretches where you try and keep that momentum going. … I want to try and keep building, keep getting better, just like everyone else.”

Oilers head trainer Kris Knoblauch additionally thinks Skinner’s play advanced over the process the marketing campaign. 

“I wouldn’t say it was up and down. I would say it was down and just continued to rise up,” Knoblauch mentioned. “I think he’s doing well. … And throughout playoffs, I hope it continues to rise.”

Skinner skated on a line with Adam Henrique and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins on Sunday because the Oilers were given in a single ultimate apply earlier than the playoff marketing campaign starts.

Everyone in Edmonton’s locker room is eagerly expecting the post-season, Skinner mentioned — himself integrated. 

“I think it’s just one of those things where everyone’s excited. Obviously, I’m not the only guy going out being excited,” he mentioned. “So I think it’ll be fun to get things going and fun to do it with this group.”