Buffalo Sabers buy out remainder of Jeff Skinner’s contract

Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams announced Saturday that the team will buy out the remainder of winger Jeff Skinner’s contract.

The 32-year-old forward had three years remaining on his contract, with a salary cap hit of $9 million. The buyout leaves the Sabers with a salary cap hit of $1.44 million in 2024-25, $4.4 million in 2025-26 and peaks in year three, where it rises to $6.44 million . The final three seasons will cost the Sabers $2.4 million per year against the salary cap.

Skinner can still score at a very good rate, after a 24 goal campaign. After signing an eight-year, $72 million contract with then-general manager Jason Botterill, Skinner spent the last six seasons in Buffalo and scored a total of 153 goals, including a 40-goal season in his first year with the team. The agile winger averaged 15 minutes and 59 seconds of playing time per night last season, including an average of 2 minutes and 35 seconds per night on the power play. It won’t take long for Skinner to find a new home.

The Toronto, Ontario native will be sought after by a number of teams this summer, as scoring goals remains the hardest thing in hockey. Skinner, despite his defensive shortcomings, which obviously played a role in the Sabres’ decision, as well as the salary cap, can still score goals in a group setting. The Nashville Predators, Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Calgary Flames and New York Islanders could all benefit from a little more secondary scoring.

There are also the Chicago Blackhawks and San Jose Sharks who are looking for experienced forwards to coach their young core. Ultimately, Skinner, who had a no-move clause on his last contract, controls his own destiny this offseason.

As for Adams and the Sabres, buying out Skinner gives them $31.7 million in projected salary cap space, which gives Adams tons of money to work with to try to get Buffalo over the cap next season.