Buffalo Sabres may be set to buyout veteran forward
By all accounts, when Jeff Skinner was drafted in the first round, seventh overall in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, by the Carolina Hurricanes, it was a good fit for all parties involved. However, as it goes, especially in professional hockey, things change, and the chance of having a team give up on you for one reason or another occurs, and you're forced to move on. This is the scenario that Skinner faced in the summer of 2018.
Skinner went to Buffalo and ultimately signed a long-term contract with the Sabres for 8 years for $72 million, which at the time seemed like a steal for a young forward with tremendous potential and upside. However, after six seasons and a remarkable downturn in production, it looks like the Sabres would like to move on from the 32-year-old left winger.
There are many issues surrounding the idea of the Sabres trying to trade Skinner. While production, as noted, has dropped, the salary itself is, in part, a large problem. Would the Sabres be willing to eat a chunk of his remaining contract, or would they give up assets to sweeten the trade? That's the question, and the answer remains unknown.
If Skinner were to depart, it would give the Sabres and their young core and prospects an opportunity to see what they've got and maybe the spark needed to make the playoffs once again. Obviously, with him in the lineup, players like Dylan Cozens and Jack Quinn haven't had much of an opportunity with the top six forward group, but with him gone, that would change. But how do you convince a player with a ridiculous contract and a NMC that it's time to move on for the sake of both parties involved?
POLL |
Should the Buffalo Sabres do whatever they have too in order to move on from Jeff Skinner? |
Yes | 154 | 75.5 % |
No | 50 | 24.5 % |
List of polls |
|
2 hours ago | By Graham Montgomery Darnell Nurse drops the gloves with Predators forward after Oilers fall behind once again |
|
3 hours ago | By Graham Montgomery John Tavares under fire for advertising magical amulet that reportedly helps him heal faster |
|
5 hours ago | By Graham Montgomery Devastating News Hits the Blackhawks as Top Player Hits the IR With Groin Injury |
|
6 hours ago | By Chris Gerics Edmonton Oilers Shake Things Up Ahead of Predators Game After Rough Start to the NHL Season |
|
8 hours ago | By Daniel Lucente Contracts of Seven Former NHL Players Suddenly Terminated, Raising Questions |
|
10 hours ago | By Tom Banks Meredith Gaudreau Reacts with Two Simple Words to Sean Monahan's Goal Celebration on Tribute Night |
|
11 hours ago | By TJ Tucker Craig Berube's Heated Timeout Speech to the Maple Leafs Bench Revealed, Sparking Strong Team Response |
|
12 hours ago | By Daniel Lucente Matt Stienburg Drops the Gloves with Nikita Zadorov as Proud Dad Trevor Watches and Films |
Previously on Bladeofsteel