Sabres begin buyout process for Jeff Skinner, GM Adams says

BUFFALO, N.Y. — It appears Jeff Skinner and the Buffalo Sabres are parting ways.

Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams confirmed Saturday during his post-NHL draft press conference that the team has begun the process of buying out forward Skinner.

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“We started the process today,” Adams said of Skinner’s acquisition. “It’s a step-by-step process.”

He added: “The process started this morning… and it is our intention to move forward.”

After Skinner scored 82 points last season, the now 32-year-old forward saw a significant drop-off in production last year, totaling 46 points in 74 games.

Skinner has three years remaining on his contract with an average annual value of $9 million. The Sabers would save about $7.5 million if the team bought out Skinner’s contract, but he would carry a cap hit over the next six seasons, ranging from just over $1,444,445 in the first year; to $4,444,445 in the second year and to $6,444,445 in the third year; to $2,444,445 the last three years.

While Adams previously said all options were on the table and nothing had been finalized, he said Thursday that whatever decision the team made, it would aim to improve on the year 2023-2024.

“We underachieved last year as a group,” he said. “We have to make tough decisions across our roster. We have to find ways to improve, and every decision we make this offseason is with that in mind and that will be part of the process we go through with Jeff.”

The NHL’s buyout period ends Sunday at 5 p.m. ET.