Tonight, NHL analyst Jim Parsons Sr. has strongly advised the Edmonton Oilers against trading away starting goalie Stuart Skinner. For months, the Edmonton Oilers have been surrounded by debate over who should be the team's starting goaltender next season. After two disappointing losses in the Stanley Cup Finals, fans have grown incredibly frustrated with the lack of consistency from the goaltending duo of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard. This frustration has led many fans and analysts to <a href='https://www.hockeylatest.com/nhl/trades/vancouver-canucks-goalie-emerges-as-potential-trade-target-for-the-edmonton-oilers' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>suggest the Oilers make a blockbuster trade involving Stuart Skinner or Calvin Pickard.</a> To this point, Stan Bowman and the Oilers front office have remained committed to the current duo. Jim Parsons Sr. of The Hockey Writers is adamant that Bowman must stick to the plan and keep Skinner around. <h3>NHL Analyst Believes Trading Stuart Skinner Would Be A Major Mistake</h3> When discussing the rumors of the Oilers trading Skinner, Parsons believes that the Oilers netminder has a quality that cannot be found in any other goalie on the trade market. Parsons believes that Skinner's hometown connection to Edmonton provides a deeper level of motivation and pride that cannot be replaced. Skinner is more than just the one guarding the net-he's an Edmonton kid who grew up dreaming about the team. That kind of connection means something. He wants to be an Oiler. He's never been heard «hemming and hawing» like other players have sputtered throughout Oil Country. He is an Oiler. Period. On top of his hometown connection, Skinner's bargain contract is something that is of immense value to the Oilers and many other goalies that are of similar or better talent will be significantly more expensive. At 26 years old, Skinner has already played more meaningful games than many goalies play in their career. Plus, he's doing it on a bargain of a contract-a $2.6 million cap hit through this season. For a team balancing big contracts and likely about to sign the largest NHL contract of all time, that kind of value is gold. As the NHL season approaches, Skinner will be given the first opportunity to run away with the starting job for the Edmonton Oilers. If he struggles, it will be interesting to see if Stan Bowman and the Oilers remain committed to the Alberta native or if they do decide to move on to a new goaltender.