Jeff Skinner met with the San Jose media for the first time since joining the San Jose Sharks as a free agent last Friday. Skinner, who had a down season by his standard with the Edmonton Oilers in 2024-25, is excited to join a young Sharks team who are looking to take a step forward this fall. “I know there's a lot of young talent there, and I'm looking forward to getting to know the guys and helping contribute, as much as I can, to taking that next step.”

Skinner scored 16 goals and posted a total of 29 points with the Oilers last season. However, both the player and the Sharks are hoping he’ll bounce back to the 30-goal level that he had with the Buffalo Sabres during the 2022-23 season.

In that campaign, he had 35 goals and 82 points in 79 games. While at 33 years of age, it’s unlikely to see a 50+ point swing in that direction, stranger things have happened, and the Sharks’ top-six is slowly proving they have the talent to make it happen. 

Despite his struggles, Skinner feels he has a lot more to give in the NHL. “I'm excited to start a new challenge. I think there's some extra juice and extra energy that comes along with that. I think for sure I’ve got a lot left. When I don't feel that way, I probably won't play anymore.”

While the Sharks have some top young talent, Skinner is one of a few veterans who were brought in this summer, and all of them have been excited to play alongside talent like Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith.

“It's always fun to play with great players, and that's what those guys are. [It’s a] fun thing to see young guys anytime, but especially, I think in today's game, the steps they take, I think sometimes can be bigger than expected,” Skinner said. “With the talent that they already have, the experience they've started to gain is only going to help them.” 

Despite his experience, Skinner says that he’ll be learning from the Sharks’ young players as much as they learn from him. ”The more guys you play with, the more sort of situations or different kinds of different things happen to different guys. Everyone has their own journey. I think the more guys you play with, the more you pick up, sort of almost by osmosis, Skinner said.

“Anything I can bring to the young guys in terms of a situation they may be going through that I may have personally experienced, or may have seen someone go through. I think saying what I did and it didn't work is a way of helping along someone who doesn't have the benefit of that experience, but I don't think there's anything that you can force. I think it just sort of happens organically, and I know for sure that some of the young guys there are more advanced and more ready for the league than I was when I came in.”

Before his time with the Oilers, Skinner had spent the entirety of his career in the Eastern Conference, whether it be with the Sabres or the Carolina Hurricanes.

He didn’t feel like the adjustment affected him much, though, stating, “I think that obviously the travel is a bit different, but the travel is the same for the whole conference for the most part. I'd say the biggest impact is my parents or family watching the games,” Skinner said with a chuckle. “They have to stay up a little bit later. So that's probably the biggest impact it had on me.”

There were a few former Sharks on the Oilers with Skinner last season, namely Ty Emberson and Evander Kane, who was suffering from an injury through the regular season, with Jake Walman joining late in the season.

As a result, Skinner said he spent quite a bit of time with Emberson. “Emby had great things to say,” Skinner stated. ”Obviously, he's a young guy, and that was sort of his first experience, and he had a lot of positive things to say, which is exciting and really positive. If guys speak highly of it, it's a good sign. I'm excited to get there and experience it myself.”

While Skinner will face an uphill battle with the Sharks this season, he’s in a position to become an impact player if he’s able to address what went wrong in Edmonton.

Considering Mike Grier projects the veteran forward to play in the top-six, that means Skinner will likely have a spot alongside one of Celebrini, Smith, or potentially even Michael Misa to start the season. As a result, there’s the possibility that Skinner bounces back to his Sabres days and is the next player to have his career rejuvenated in the Bay Area. 

Photo Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images

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