Jeff Skinner has been relegated to the taxi squad in Buffalo, not even skating with the active roster on a regular basis. His agent recently spoke with the team’s GM to voice concerns, but Skinner spoke to the media directly today. When asked by Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News whether he would want to be on a different team he was clear:
No. I love being a Sabre. I love the city of Buffalo. I wouldn’t have chosen to stay here if that wasn’t the case, so that answer is simple.
Skinner handled the questioning as professionally as possible, not willing to detail any of the conversations he’s had with head coach Ralph Kreuger. Unfortunately, professionalism isn’t really the issue here, production is. The 28-year-old didn’t score a single goal in his 14 games earlier this season and is still sitting on just 24 points since signing the $72MM extension.
- Jim Rutherford still has “the bug” to work in a hockey front office again, as he explained to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic. The legendary executive resigned his position as GM of the Pittsburgh Penguins earlier this year, replaced by Ron Hextall. That transition seems to have been his plan all along, as he tells LeBrun he suggested Hextall to Penguins CEO David Morehouse as his eventual replacement several times both before and after his resignation.
- Auston Matthews has been dealing with a wrist injury for the Toronto Maple Leafs and today was absent at the team’s practice. Head coach Sheldon Keefe listed him as day-to-day but wouldn’t rule him out for tomorrow’s match against the Edmonton Oilers. The team did have some good news as Joe Thornton, Jack Campbell and Jake Muzzin (with a full shield after breaking a bone in his face), returned to practice.
Exactly. Jimmy abruptly resigned as an NHL GM because he really has the bug to work in a front office again, a few weeks later.
Hopefully, our local media won’t dare risk their cushy gigs retweeting the team’s press statements by asking any tough questions about just what exactly went down here and why.
@forwhomjoshbelltolled – So you’re saying they come to pre- and post-game pressers with butter knives? That’s a damn shame, as a vigorous, yet not-stupidly-belligerent media can keep a team honest. I have to say, it’s sometimes a little difficult to hear questions asked of Coach Sully on the Pens’ postgame (WXDX). We can hear his responses, of course, but can’t tell who is asking what some of the time.
I think he looked into trading Sid, Geno or both. I believe Mario said that aint happening and he resigned because he feels he cant do the job to the best of his ability
Rumor has it that he wanted to move Letang and Malkin. Sid is never going to be traded.
I want to see Rutherford work for say … Chicago? They are sucking right now
Flames could use Rutherford.
Skinner got off to a great start with the Sabres when he first came and then fizzled
It was a the Sabres fault for extending a Tomato Can and now they have to figure out what to do about it
Nashville should dump David Poile at this point and pick up GMJR