Feb. 17: Skinner cleared unconditional waivers and has had his contract terminated, per Friedman. He is now an unrestricted free agent.
Feb. 16: The Sharks have placed winger Jeff Skinner on unconditional waivers for purposes of contract termination, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports. He’ll become an unrestricted free agent tomorrow if no one claims the remainder of his existing $3MM cap hit for this season.
The timing of the maneuver suggests Skinner has tangible interest from at least one other NHL team, but they weren’t interested in acquiring him from the Sharks – even for future considerations – at his current cap hit. With San Jose only carrying one salary retention slot until the end of next season, they’ll be picky about how they use it and likely aren’t willing to retain money on the veteran winger to complete a trade.
As such, he’ll need to walk away from the remainder of his guaranteed $3MM salary for this season and sign on elsewhere for close to, if not at, the league minimum for the stretch run. He signed with the Sharks nearly two weeks into free agency last summer to give them some additional top-nine scoring help, but the fit just hasn’t been there. He’s been limited to six goals and 13 points in 32 appearances and was relegated to the press box for 10 straight games heading into the Olympic break, last suiting up on Jan. 11.
With Michael Misa being thrust into top-six duties on the other side of the World Juniors and their pickup of Kiefer Sherwood from the Canucks pushing Skinner down the depth chart, there was no longer a home or need for him in a depth scoring role. He finishes his Sharks tenure averaging 12:21 of ice time per game with a -8 rating.
If a playoff contender is looking for a third-line boost with boatloads of NHL experience, they’ll have a perfect pickup in Skinner. The 2010 seventh overall pick crossed the 1,100-game threshold earlier this season and has averaged 28 goals and 53 points per 82 games for his career, although he’s produced closer to a 30-point pace since the beginning of last season.
One thing the 5’11” winger is light on is postseason experience. He didn’t have any until signing a one-year deal with the Oilers in free agency in 2024, and even then, he appeared in only five games during their run to last year’s Stanley Cup Final, having slipped to a No. 13/14 forward by the time the playoffs rolled around.
As for the Sharks, they’ll clear up a bit of cap space heading into the deadline, but more importantly, they’ll shed a contract. They were at the 50-contract limit until Vincent Iorio got claimed off waivers by the Rangers last month, so that’s been a concern for them from the jump this year. They’ll now have a bit more breathing room with two open slots heading into the deadline.
I’d take him on the Kings. Postseason experience is huge, and he has it. I know he’s old, but he could reunite with Perry and become a decent player, especially with Fiala out
5 games total in the postseason is, technically, postseason experience but I wouldn’t highlight it as a reason to nab Skinner…
Could definitely see the Kings taking a shot on him but I’m not sure he moves the needle much at all at this point.
You guys are both right about that. Not a huge needle mover, but it’s a replacement to say the least. I’d prefer Patrik Laine any day, but this is fine with me as well, since you don’t want to break up that 4th line
No, unless they take back Ceci!!
Ceci hasn’t been terrible. But boy that contract is. Still don’t get that overpay.
Assuming that the kings will actually make the playoffs…lol
He has played 5 playoff games in 16 years but I do agree he could be a good pickup for L.A with Fiala out, If he can get back to scoring goals again.
Would rather keep Foegle!
Sabres need an offensive and no defense guy.
Smart move on both sides. Now he can sign for cheap with a contender and San Jose gets some much needed cap relief.
Only if he clears and they release him!
He’s on waivers for purpose of contract termination, if he clears then he’s released.
Dude is a poor conditioned selfish player that is a one trick pony that is not really great at that one trick anymore . Can’t figure what team would want him .
If they really need cap space for a big player, they can put Logan Couture on SELTIR and use ALL his cap hit. He is only on IR now.
It’s less about cap space and more about roster spots. San Jose has a lot of developing talent pushing for NHL time, and managing the number of active NHL contracts with players coming off IR has been a challenge. If they’re going to add at the deadline, they need to shed contracts, not just cash.
Skinner really has not been good this year. At the very start of the season, he looked like a high-effort redemption project, but once he started getting benched, that fire was gone. Had a great career, but not worth icing over developing talent.
Well then he’ll fit well on the Kings, since they haven’t really shown any interest in developing talent under Hiller!
Not! You could put McSatan on the Kings and he wouldn’t get 100 points!
It’s going to take an extremely desperate GM to give Skinner a roster spot at this point. He provides next to nothing.
Guy gives up 1.5million to be a free agent?
Honestly i don’t know his salary structure
It was $3MM in base salary, straight-up, no signing bonuses. We’re about 70% of the way through the season, so he basically forfeits the other 30%, around $900K.
He made around $115 million in his career, so I think he is fine!
Jack Johnson has entered the chat
This is set up for the Kings. Working in the field I do I work closely with several former nhl players and scouts. GM’s. Have guys they love. Holland is no exception. He tried to get Skinner when he was in Detroit and Edmonton He got Cici when he was with the Oilers and again with the Kings.
I would be fine if the Kings sign him to the minimum and send him to Ontario to get in playing shape and go from there!
GOLDEN KNIGHTS with Jack 1 million contract.
We don’t need anymore washed up veterans like Saad.