Jets’ Stuart Skinner and Clay Stevenson emerge as stopgap in net

The Winnipeg Jets have opened their season without long-time franchise goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who is currently out of the lineup after asking to be traded following a difficult 2025-26 season for both himself and the club. In his absence, Winnipeg has handed the crease to a new tandem of Stuart Skinner and Clay Stevenson, and so far the results have been encouraging.

Skinner signing and Stevenson waiver claim reshape Jets’ net

Faced with mounting uncertainty around Hellebuyck, general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff moved in the off-season to sign Stuart Skinner as an unrestricted free agent. At the time, Skinner could reasonably have been pencilled in either as a backup to Hellebuyck or as an option to take on a bigger share of the workload if needed. That second scenario became reality when Hellebuyck declined to report, creating a clear vacancy behind Skinner.

Winnipeg then seized on an opportunity when the Washington Capitals placed Clay Stevenson on waivers. After several productive seasons in the AHL, Stevenson was claimed by the Jets and dropped into an NHL role on short notice. It was a calculated gamble on a goalie with limited top-level experience but a strong minor-league track record.

Through the first three games, the combination has paid off. The Jets sit at 2-0-1, hold an early lead in the Central Division and own a .918 team save percentage, which ranks 10th in the league at this early stage.

Carter Hutton sees potential in the tandem

On Tuesday’s edition of Daily Faceoff Live, host Tyler Yaremchuk and former NHL goaltender Carter Hutton debated whether Skinner and Stevenson can keep Winnipeg competitive over the long haul, even if they cannot realistically match Hellebuyck’s peak, MVP-level play. Yaremchuk pointed to Stevenson’s limited NHL sample and waiver-wire arrival from Washington, contrasted with Skinner’s more extensive experience.

Hutton described Skinner as a goalie whose play has fluctuated at times in his career, referencing his stint in Edmonton, but argued that the current setup in Winnipeg could suit him. With Skinner in place, Stevenson can be eased into a bigger role. Hutton emphasized the value of the learning process Stevenson went through in the AHL and suggested that goaltenders often come into their own later in their twenties, leaving room for further growth.

“He’s coming into a good team. This might be the perfect fit for the Winnipeg Jets, where he can play a bigger role,” Hutton said, noting that less-heralded goalies can still develop into reliable NHL options over time.

Short sample, big implications for Winnipeg’s season

The early returns from Skinner and Stevenson provide Cheveldayoff with some breathing room while the Hellebuyck situation remains unresolved. A .918 save percentage over three games is hardly conclusive, but it suggests the Jets can at least stay afloat with their current setup in net.

Whether this tandem can shoulder the grind of a full season and keep Winnipeg in the playoff race is still an open question. For now, though, the Jets have found a way to navigate a potentially destabilizing situation without it derailing their start to the year.