Stuart Skinner number: Why does Skinner wear 74?

Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender of the Edmonton Oilers Stuart Skinner has explained why he wears the unusual jersey number 74. He made the revelation after he secured his first NHL win with the Oilers. He said: “Growing up I had three brothers,” “My first brother that was born, he’s always been 71. My next brother was 72, my next brother was 73, so I had to decide between 70 and 74, so I went with 74.”

Skinner was a third round selection, 78th overall, in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft by the Oilers.

Prior to being signed by the Oilers, Skinner played major junior hockey in the Western Hockey League with the Lethbridge Hurricanes and Swift Current Broncos.

He scored an empty net goal with the Lethbridge Hurricanes against the Medicine Hat Tigers, on March 18, 2016, making him the only goaltender in franchise history and the seventh in WHL history to do so.

Skinner spent a part of the 2021 season with the Bakersfield Condors of the American Hockey League (AHL). He led all goaltenders in wins with 20, and helped Bakersfield to the Pacific Division Championship.

Splitting the 2021–22 season between the AHL and the NHL, Skinner recorded his first NHL shutout against the San Jose Sharks on February 14, 2022, making 20 saves to win the game 3–0.

On January 19, 2023, the NHL announced Skinner as one of three final skaters of the Pacific Division voted in the 2023 NHL All-Star Game, along with teammate Leon Draisaitl.