Jeff Skinner is 33 now, but you wouldn’t know it talking to him. He’s as chill and thoughtful as ever about the game. Adjusting to a new team isn’t easy, but for Skinner, it’s just part of the job when you’ve been in the league this long.
“The longer you’ve been in the league, the more guys you kind of get to know,” Skinner said.
“And even if you don’t know guys, you know guys that sort of [have been] playing with other guys. So I think that helps kind of break the ice, or you get to know new teammates sooner, which obviously, I think, is the biggest thing. It’s more about just, like, coming together with the group … and I think every group is different, but just getting out throughout your career,” said Skinner.
He’s not just talking about hockey. He’s talking about how you handle yourself, how you figure out what works for you.
“Everyone goes through their own kind of personal sort of journey,” he said. “Guys have to kind of figure out what works for them personally. So I think, for me, I bounce things off other guys, whether they’re older, and see if a guy’s been in a certain situation, what they did in that situation, maybe it works for you.”
Skinner is humble.
“Maybe it’s not something that works for you. So you kind of pull from it … even if someone asks me a question, it’s more about what’s working for me. And if they can only take a piece of what I did and it works for them, that’s great too,” said Skinner.
Answers like this reflect so much about what kind of player we have here in San Jose. He isn’t just a cool vet to have around; he’s a smart leader.
Skinner also knows that a new season means a fresh start, no matter how many games you’ve played.
“I think you have to be prepared for adversity. I think at the start, you get excited, you get off to a good start, and then from there, settle in for the grind of the season,” he said.
And that’s where experience pays off. Skinner’s been through the highs and lows before. He’s had hot starts, cold stretches, and playoff droughts. That perspective is what helps him stay grounded.
“You’re always trying to work on things,” he said. “That’s what experience gives you, is the opportunity to have perspective and sort of learn from situations and adapt to situations that come up throughout the season. So I think for me, having experience to go off and play whatever comes my way, personally or as a team, I think is kind of something drawing for me.”
