Stuart Skinner awarded superstar recognition in Edmonton despite fan outrage

Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender Stuart Skinner has been in the spotlight, although not for the reasons a goalie might wish. Though he guided the Edmonton Oilers to victories over the Montreal Canadiens and Dallas Stars, Skinner came under scrutiny following the team's shocking loss to the Buffalo Sabres—a team that had not recorded a victory since February.

Oilers fans took to social media to express their frustration, with one particularly scathing post reading, “The Sabres were on a 6-game losing streak... then they played Stuart Skinner’s Oilers.”
Despite the backlash, Skinner remains unfazed and is receiving a level of recognition that puts him alongside none other than Connor McDavid.

Although some people doubt his recent play, Stuart Skinner is winning citywide admiration in a manner few anticipated. In an unusual show of respect, Pizza 73 is briefly changing its name to ‘Pizza 74’ to pay homage to the hometown goaltender's jersey number.
Not content to end at the name change, the company is also introducing a limited-time offer in the form of the ‘Skinner Dinner,’ a big two-topping pizza, and three beverages for $18.99. The campaign will be very visible, as the new Pizza 74 branding will be found at Oilers games, and an official website launch will soon follow.

‘Same number. New outfit. Excited to be partnering with Pizza 74’, Stuart Skinner shared on his Instagram handle.

Stuart Skinner isn’t the first Oilers player to receive such an honour. Back in February, Connor McDavid saw his name take over McDonald’s locations following a clutch overtime goal that secured Canada’s 4 Nations Face-Off victory against the United States.
McDonald's had turned two of its restaurants—one in Edmonton and one in Newmarket—into ‘McDavid's’ for an entire week, honouring a commitment they'd made years earlier that depended on the Oilers defeating the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup championship.
Also read: Stuart Skinner opens about backlash
That title never materialized, but McDavid still earned his due adoration. Stuart Skinner's next moment of unveiling is up next, proof positive that in all the criticism he took, his legacy for Edmonton is still etched in stone.