Do you ever think about certain things that come out and won't go away? Like, you can't get rid of them, no matter how hard you try? Vegas Golden Knights fans know this all too well, whether it's rowdy Oilers fans coming out of the woodwork or cockroaches in the basement.
Speaking of which, Oilers fans have a reason to come out of hiding as Stuart Skinner was traded on Friday. In return, Edmonton gets Tristan Jarry from the Pittsburgh Penguins and Spencer Stastney from the Nashville Predators. Out goes defenseman Brett Kulak and a 2029 second-round pick. In comes AHL forward Samuel Poulin.
The Penguins have acquired goaltender Stuart Skinner, defenseman Brett Kulak, and the Edmonton Oilers 2029 second-round draft pick in exchange for goaltender Tristan Jarry and forward Sam Poulin.
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) December 12, 2025
Details: https://t.co/b80VaipsNR pic.twitter.com/ONFgHKq0Tr
As for Stastney, the defenseman goes to the Oilers for a 2027 third-round pick. Barry Trotz continues his pursuit to get more fornicating from Nashville as it tries to make its way atop a loaded Central Division. Will the group of small-town guys make the impossible happen? Stay tuned.
However, it isn't just news for the Golden Knights to monitor. It's also something that the upstart Anaheim Ducks and the pesky Los Angeles Kings should follow. Heck, the "Time to Celebrini" party in Pleasanton has been put on hold. But do these moves change the entire landscape of the Pacific Division?
Why the Edmonton Oilers acquiring Tristan Jarry and Spencer Stastney will (and won't) impact the Vegas Golden Knights
Let's start with Spencer Stastney. He might not score a lot as Evan Bouchard does. However, he's meant to be a lower-end, stay-at-home defender, giving Edmonton more structure in front of the net. With his quick feet and logical play, he could compress the Golden Knights when the two teams meet. Add in a penalty-killing acumen, and the Oilers upgrade their team in more ways than one.
Therefore, Vegas will have a bigger test on its hands with a faster blue line. They must figure out how to attack the middle, especially on the power play. Here's where you must watch for bigger bodies like Tomas Hertl and Mark Stone, since they're great at attacking the slot. Time to dig those keesters in!
But what about Tristan Jarry? Well, he does have a GAA of 2.66 and a save percentage of .909. Therefore, it tracks that the Oilers will improve in the net. But will that still be enough to overcome the Golden Knights and the Ducks in the Pacific Division?
The Golden Knights just got Stone back, who has four goals and seven assists since his return. Suddenly, Vegas's attack looks more potent and deadly. As for Anaheim, they have the second-best scoring attack in the NHL entering Friday (3.52 goals per game). Young stars like Leo Carlsson (17 goals and 22 assists) tend to tear up goaltending, no matter who's in net.
Therefore, it stands with good reason that the Ducks won't be affected as much, either. Jarry tends to be inconsistent and struggles on breakaways, leaving rush teams like the Golden Knights and the Ducks to feast. The former Penguin isn't necessarily the long-term solution that Edmonton needs, considering that he's also 30 years old.
If you're a Golden Knights fan or a Ducks fan, you still see an opportunity to attack vulnerable goaltending. Plain and simple. The Oilers could've also gotten Juuse Saros with Stastney for more "bang" (as Barry Trotz would put it) for their buck, as initially rumored. However, the deal has some Edmonton fans feeling a little flaccid. That could still make it "hard" for the Oilers to surpass Vegas and Anaheim in the Pacific Division, even with McJesus and Draisaitl.