The pending free agent winger draws serious interest from contenders reloading for a Cup run, with three fits standing out in rumor mills. Skinner's scoring touch tempts GMs balancing cap sheets and playoff pushes this March. His next contract shapes lines and legacies, as teams position before the market floods.

Jeff Skinner hits the market hard after San Jose pulls the plug on his contract, and NHL front offices already circle with offers. The scoring winger, who bounced around before landing in the Bay Area, now eyes contenders hungry for his shot volume and experience. GMs weigh the risk-reward as the trade deadline looms, knowing Skinner's next stop shapes his legacy and a buyer's cup odds.

The Edmonton Oilers cling to first place in the Pacific, but their goaltending tandem of Tristan Jarry and Connor Ingram faces brutal questions after leaking goals in four of the last five games. Front offices whisper that team defense lags badly, forcing netminders into impossible spots night after night, just like the funks that plagued Stuart Skinner before his Pittsburgh escape. GM Stan Bowman eyes blue-line fixes over panic moves in net, knowing one playoff slip could torch another Cup run.

Toronto's front office hums with whispers about Stuart Skinner anchoring the crease, young gun Braeden Quillan turning heads in the system, and Bobby McMann proving he's more than a depth piece amid the trade deadline frenzy. GMs around the league know the Leafs hold cards that could shake up contenders, especially with cap space and picks burning a hole in their pockets. As March 6 looms, Brendan Shanahan's crew weighs bold swings that could redefine their Cup window or signal a subtle retool.

Jeff Skinner clears waivers after the Sharks place the veteran winger on unconditional waivers for mutual contract termination, setting him loose as an unrestricted free agent. The 33-year-old, who inked a one-year deal hoping to rediscover his six-time 30-goal form, managed just six goals in 32 games while battling healthy scratches and a career-low ice time.

The San Jose Sharks place veteran forward Jeff Skinner on waivers in a mutual decision to part ways, sending ripples through a league always hunting for scoring punch. Skinner, the former Calder winner who's notched 30 goals six times, brings his 33-year-old game to the wire after a modest 13 points in 32 games with the club. GMs around the NHL eye this closely as cap space and playoff pushes collide before the Olympic break alters the landscape.