Skinner Talks “Frustrating” Season With Sharks, Staying Positive (+)

This is an unfamiliar position for Jeff Skinner.

Once again, the six-time 30-goal scorer, who just played his 1,100th game on Tuesday, is being healthy scratched by the San Jose Sharks.

This is Skinner’s third healthy scratch this season. He was also sidelined for a couple weeks recently with a lower-body injury.

All in all, Skinner admitted to San Jose Hockey Now that it’s been a “frustrating” season for him.

After a quick start to this season — Skinner recorded three goals in the Sharks’ first four games — he has one goal in his last 18 appearances, and none since Nov. 2.

This is not what the 33-year-old winger, signed to a one-year, $3 million contract by the San Jose Sharks over the summer, is accustomed to.

One of the great goal-scorers in the league in his prime, topping out with 40 in 2018-19, Skinner still managed 16 goals in limited ice time with the Stanley Cup Final-bound Edmonton Oilers last year. He has 377 goals over an illustrious 16-year career, which includes the 2011 Calder Trophy.

After Thursday’s practice, Skinner spoke with SJHN about where his mental head space is at.

San Jose Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky told Sharks Hockey Digest what he’s looking for from the veteran sniper.

“We’re going to give him some freedom to make plays. That’s what he’s done his whole career to create offense,” Warsofsky said. “But there needs to be more detail without the puck in his game. That’s really what it comes down to.”