Chad DeDominicis of Expected Buffalo is reporting that the Buffalo Sabres intend to buy out forward Jeff Skinner. Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reported last week that the Sabres were considering a buyout of the final three years on Skinner’s deal, but with the buyout window opening today, all signs point to his time in Buffalo being finished.
Skinner is owed $22MM for the final three seasons of his eight-year $72MM contract and his buyout will be spread out over the next six seasons. The numbers broken down by year will look like this (as per CapFriendly):
- Year 1 – $1.44MM
- Year 2 – $4.44MM
- Year 3 – $6.44MM
- Year 4 – $2.44MM
- Year 5 – $2.44MM
- Year 6 – $2.44MM
Buffalo will save $7.555MM in the first year of the buyout which will give the Sabres $31MM in cap space to play with this summer as they look to get back to the playoffs for the first time in over a decade.
For Skinner, the buyout ends a run in Buffalo that was mired by inconsistent offensive production and poor defensive play. Skinner was acquired by the Sabres back in August 2018 for a package that included a 2019 second-round draft pick, a third-round draft pick in 2020, as well as a sixth-round draft pick in 2020 and Cliff Pu. The trade initially looked like a big win for Buffalo as Skinner posted 40 goals and 23 assists in 82 games. He then signed his massive extension in June 2019 and that’s when the relationship began to sour.
Skinner wasn’t able to maintain his 14.9% shooting percentage from the 2018-19 season and fell on hard times the next two seasons, posting just 21 goals and 16 assists in 112 games. He bounced back in 2022-23, tallying 35 goals and 47 assists for a career-high 82 points in 79 games, however this past season the 32-year-old’s numbers cratered once again as he fell to 24 goals and 22 assists.
Skinner will find work this summer, as there is no shortage of teams looking for scoring and not a ton of it to be found in free agency. Skinner’s defensive work remains an issue and he isn’t much of a puck carrier, but he should be able to latch on with a team on a short-term deal and possibly offer secondary scoring at a reduced price point.
Adiós Jeffrey
If it leads to a better player being added to his spot I don’t have a issue with the buyout.
I know Buffalo fans hate the poor guy, but he is only 1 season removed from back-to-back 30+ goal seasons, and is still only 32 years old.
GMJbot just overpaid him by about 4mil per. I’m not sure if the GM felt rushed to sign him or if Baby Jack wanted him back. I would have left a $5mil per x 5 years deal on the table for 36 hours when Skinner was a FA.
it seems like they could have traded him with half retained……….
His NMC made that challenging; not impossible, but not simply a matter of finding a willing trade partner.
I think the buyout signals tat the Sabres will be aggressive in upgrading the roster.
NMC
Hope he signs a cheapo contract with the Leafs.
Pageau or Campbell next?
you must hate the Leafs lol
Can’t wait to see him skate around the ice while hoisting the Stanley Cup.
Pathetic organization
that would be different for him as he has NEVER made the playoffs
30 goals scorers with a penchant of being a defensive liability aren’t hard to find. So nobody is going to do them a favour. I’m sure they tried to trade him w 50%, but weren’t as lucky as the Kings wth PLB.
I’d love to see Skinner fill the Guentzel role on Sid’s line. For the right price and term, of course.
We need a shooter. This guy’s a chucker.
That cap hit in 2026-27, though, when these big extensions are kicking in.
Those extensions are already kicking in. Cap is going up so GMKA just needs to not spend those increases the next few seasons.
He’ll have a lot of offers
Skinner would look so good skating on the left wing with Kopitar and Kempe I would take 25 goals in the cheap
1 year @ $2 mil.
He never lived up to his contract so I think the buyout is a good idea if Adams addresses the forward group with a top-six player. Having said that, I never had any issue with Skinner in his time in Buffalo just not enough bang for the buck.
Dumb, as are most longterm buyouts. They should keep building as they have been.
If Buffalo adds another top 6 option Skinner drops down to the 3rd line or even 4th. For $9mil per that is a top 6 player. Better to move on now.
I can see him a real fit in Chicago for 2-3 years.
As a defensive liability Skinner would not enjoy playing under Ruff. Change of scenery needed all around. That said, he is often fun to watch. Good luck, Jeff.
Buffalo will still be one of the youngest teams next season. Skinner likes to do his thing on the ice. He is overpaid by about $4mil per. GMJB felt pressured & gave him a high annual salary & a NMC to boot. Skinner on a more veteran team with other capable top linemates can be more effective with his style of play. But since he has never made the playoffs even with the Canes that puts a asterisk next to Skinner & his style of play.