Jeff Skinner hits the ice with EHC Biel-Bienne, swapping NHL colors for Swiss threads as he eyes a potential scoring resurgence and a future return to North America.
Former Edmonton Oilers forward Jeff Skinner is getting acquainted with his new team, the EHC Biel-Bienne, a three-time Swiss National League champion. On August 14, they announced that he had signed a contract through April 2027.
It might be an odd look for fans who aren't used to seeing Skinner in anything but an NHL jersey, but he's making the uniform look pretty good.
The official account showed Skinner donning his new gear, arriving for an on-ice session, his locker room stall, and him skating. They wrote, "This morning, Jeff Skinner hit the ice for the first time alongside his new teammates β his very first team training session since joining EHC Biel."
He seemed legitimately excited to be part of the group.
When asked about his future, Skinner said, "Maybe something will come, maybe something won't. For me, I think the opportunity to play, the opportunity to feel wanted as much as I was here, the opportunity to have fun playing is really what I was after. I'm excited to get the opportunity to do that here."
Skinner might not have the speed or two-way game that get NHL clubs yearning for him to join their roster, but he still knows how to score and was one of the better goal-scorers of his generation. A strong showing could wake up a team looking for some depth offense.
The way he talked about his deal, it sounds like he might have an out clause if an NHL team makes an offer.
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