Sabres buy out Skinner’s contract

The Buffalo Sabres have purchased the remainder of forward Jeff Skinner’s contract, the team announced Sunday.

Skinner, 32, had three years remaining on the eight-year, $72 million contract he signed in June 2019. As a result of the buyout, the Sabers will pay Skinner for six years, but with a salary cap reduced below its original cap of $9. million on average.

The move will provide additional salary cap space for the Sabres entering free agency, which opens at noon Monday, July 1.