Penguins get Robertson – not that one – and Skinner goes to Winnipeg
Stuart Skinner is heading to Winnipeg as the carousel of goaltenders moving around the NHL picked up steam Wednesday with the start of free agency.
Skinner agreed to terms on a two-year contract worth $7.5 million with the Jets, who have been listening to trade offers for three-time Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck. Skinner helped Edmonton reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2024 and ’25 before losing to Florida each time, and spent the end of last season in Pittsburgh.
The goalie who beat Skinner and the Oilers, Sergei Bobrovsky, was arguably the top free agent on the market, regardless of position. He signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Penguins were busy Wednesday. They acquired forward Nick Robertson from Toronto in exchange for a 2028 fourth-round draft pick.
Robertson, 24, is currently a restricted free agent.
Robertson, whose brother Jason Robertson is the top skater on the free-agent market, has played the last six seasons in the Toronto organization. The 5-9, 180-pound forward recorded career highs with 16 goals, 16 assists and 32 points in 78 games with the Maple Leafs last season. His 16 goals ranked sixth on the Maple Leafs.
In 234 career NHL games, all with Toronto, Robertson has tallied 48 goals, 40 assists and 88 points.
Jason Robertson is ticketed for a long-term, lucrative contract. He turns 27 this month and led the Dallas Stars in scoring with 96 points on 45 goals and 51 assists last season. Dallas is hoping that clearing salary-cap space will help in re-signing Robertson.
The Penguins, who have been linked to Jason Robertson, might be hoping that acquiring his brother might help lure the top free agent.
The Penguins also signed defensemen Declan Carlile and veteran Trevor van Riemsdyk to two-year contracts, and added forward Andrei Kuzmenko on a one-year contract.
Van Riemsdyk is signed through the 2027-28 season. The 6-3, 210-pound defenseman had 14 points (3G-11A) in 68 games with Washington last season. He ranked fourth among Capitals defensemen in shorthanded time-on-ice per game and fifth in plus-minus (+6). He has played in 751 career NHL games with Chicago, Carolina and Washington, winning a Stanley Cup Championship with the Blackhawks in 2015.
Kuzmenko, 30, has played in four NHL seasons, spending this past year with the Los Angeles Kings. The 5-11, 200-pound forward had 25 points, including 13 goals, in 52 games with the Kings. His eight power-play goals led the team.
Carlile, 26, spent the 2025-26 season with the Tampa Bay organization, splitting the year between the Lighting and their AHL affiliate in Syracuse. With the Lightning, Carlile played in 42 games, recording one goal, two assists and was a plus-5.
With a shallow pool of free agents available, many teams are going the trade route to try to improve this summer. The New York Rangers got their backup goalie that way, sending minor leaguer Kalle Vaisanen and a 2028 fourth-round pick to Boston for Joonas Korpisalo.
Nashville acquired pending restricted free agent forward Mavrik Bourque from Dallas. The Predators sent a 2027 second- and a 2028 third-round pick to the Stars for Bourque and defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin.