Stuart Skinner's latest question is suddenly impossible for teams to ignore

This is no longer just about whether the Oilers believe Skinner can settle their crease. It is about whether they are willing to let the open market set the number first.

Bruce Garrioch's note out of the Ottawa Citizen puts the expected tag at a term deal worth $4 million per season.

That is not a casual backup price.

That is a commitment number for a goalie a team believes can carry real starts, survive a bad stretch, and still be trusted when the schedule gets heavy.

The tweet landed because it turned a vague offseason question into a clean contract line.

For Edmonton, the risk is simple.

If the Oilers do not end up signing him, that is the range other teams will have to pay to sign him.

Goalie shopping gets ugly fast. Teams do not just pay for save percentage. They pay for playoff starts, age, availability, and the belief that a different structure can clean up the rough nights.

Skinner will not be viewed the same way by every front office.

One team may see a goalie who still leaves too many loose pucks in the blue paint. Another may see a starter-level body of work being dragged down by Edmonton's defensive chaos.

At $4 million, there is no hiding spot.

That contract would tell the locker room the crease is not just being patched. It would say the team has picked a lane.

For Bowman, that is the decision.

Pay Skinner before another club does, or accept that the next goalie answer may cost even more.