Jeff Skinner Finally Breaks Playoff Drought After 1,078 Regular-Season Games

LOS ANGELES, April 21, 2025 — After 1,078 regular-season games, Edmonton Oilers forward Jeff Skinner will finally make his playoff debut. The 32-year-old veteran is set to participate in his first Stanley Cup Playoff game as the Oilers take on the Los Angeles Kings in Game 1 of the Western Conference First Round at Crypto.Com Arena on Monday night.

Skinner, who signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Oilers last summer, expressed his excitement about finally being part of the postseason. The Oilers secured their playoff spot after a 4-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks on April 11, allowing Skinner to break the record for the most regular-season games played without a playoff appearance.

“I was happy. We have a pretty tight group, and everyone is kind of aware of what’s going on,” Skinner said on Sunday. “It’s a bit of a storyline for me, but I think on that day everyone was happy. We worked hard to get here.”

Oilers captain Connor McDavid, in a show of camaraderie, presented a championship belt to Skinner, a tradition awarded to the player of the game. “It’s exciting for him to get that opportunity. We know how much fun it is. We know it’s the best time of year,” McDavid remarked after the Oilers clinched their playoff berth.

Skinner played the first eight seasons of his career with the Carolina Hurricanes and the next six with the Buffalo Sabres, neither of which made a playoff appearance during his tenure. “It’s a long time. That’s a great career for most, so the fact he never played in a playoff game is unique,” McDavid added.

After the Sabres bought out the final three years of Skinner’s contract in June 2024, he became a key free-agent signing for the Oilers, who have been a playoff contender for the last six seasons. Last year, they reached the Stanley Cup Final but fell to the Florida Panthers.

“For my first year here, I knew we had a competitive team, and I was trying to be a part of it,” Skinner stated. “It feels good to have worked towards this goal all year.”

On the ice, the Oilers expect Skinner to contribute meaningfully alongside Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Trent Frederic. Skinner’s performance has improved since facing some struggles earlier in the season, boasting 2.04 points per 60 minutes in his last 37 games.

“You see his excitement,” said Oilers defenseman. “There are guys who don’t get that opportunity, and you have to appreciate it. It’s nice to see him finally get to experience the playoffs.”

Skinner’s journey has been marked by perseverance; he was on teams that endured lengthy playoff droughts during his career. Carolina did not qualify for the playoffs for nine straight seasons from 2009-10 to 2017-18, and Buffalo hasn’t reached the postseason since 2010-11.

Oilers forward Zach Hyman, who played minor hockey with Skinner, also expressed happiness for his friend’s long-awaited playoff chance. “If you told us at seven or eight that we’d be playing together in the playoffs, it’d be pretty cool. He’s a great guy, and he’s going to help us in the playoffs,” Hyman said.

As Skinner prepares for this moment, he feels the weight of his past experiences and anticipates the unique excitement playoff hockey brings. “Every year, you feel like you have a chance, and it’s a good feeling to finally be part of that,” he added.

Skinner’s teammates understand the significance of his debut, noting that it revitalizes their own perspectives on the playoffs. “You appreciate it more when you see someone like Jeff get this chance,” said Oilers defenseman.

Ultimately, Skinner’s long wait for playoff hockey ended on Monday night, and he’s ready to seize the opportunity on the grand stage of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.