Jeff Skinner has been a key piece of the Buffalo Sabres' offensive core since signing an eight-year, $72 million contract extension with the franchise back in 2019. But after a disappointing 2023-24 campaign that saw the 32-year-old regress to just 46 points in 74 games, the front office could be exploring buying out the final three years of Skinner's contract.
“There's been some rumblings around the league that [buying out Jeff Skinner] is a possibility,” reported Sportsnet hockey insider Elliotte Friedman earlier this week. “The Sabres aren't talking and nobody is really talking here, but the word is definitely out there that for Skinner, a buyout is a possibility.”
The buyout window opens 48 hours after the Stanley Cup Final concludes, which means a decision could come as soon as Sunday on Skinner's future in Western New York. That is if the Florida Panthers are able to defeat the Edmonton Oilers on the road in Game 6.
It would certainly be a bold move by Buffalo's front office to buy out Skinner; the former No. 7 overall pick in the 2010 NHL Draft is a seven-time 30-goal scorer, first accomplishing the feat in his rookie season with the Carolina Hurricanes — the club that drafted him — back in 2010-11.
With three years remaining at a $9 million cap hit, Skinner is certainly being overpaid relative to his statistical output. He was exceptional in 2022-23, scoring 35 goals and 82 points in 79 games and helping the Sabres come within a single victory of finally breaking their long postseason drought.
But last season was a completely different story, with Skinner struggling mightily throughout the campaign and managing his lowest point total over a full year since 2014-15. And that might be all the front office needed to see as they desperately try to build a playoff contending team.
Sabres own longest postseason drought in North American sports
Fans of professional hockey in Western New York haven't seen the playoffs since 2011. It's an absolutely astounding stat; no team in the four major North American sports leagues has been as consistently futile as the Sabres, and with every season that passes, the hole gets deeper.
But buying out Skinner and saving some cap space might be a necessary move for the front office. It would cost $19.6 million against the cap spread over six years, but will save the team $7.5 million this season and $4.5 million next year.
That could make a buyout worth it, especially as Skinner owns a full no-movement clause that would make it very difficult to trade the former Kitchener Rangers forward.
With Lindy Ruff back in the fold, the team will be emphasizing defense in 2024-25, and that's not a place where Skinner particularly thrives. He's a goal-scoring offensive threat, but if he isn't scoring, it's hard to justify paying him $9 million, especially considering his advanced age.
Without a doubt, Skinner's massive cap hit is a hindrance to the team right now, and a buyout could end up working out well for the Sabres in the future. Although it's been a great career from a regular-season standpoint — Skinner has amassed 670 points in 1,0006 games — he's absurdly not played a single postseason contest over a 14-year NHL career.
Skinner deserves a few playoff runs before he retires, and if it isn't going to happen in Buffalo, he deserves the opportunity to have a fresh start in the continued to quest for late-April hockey.
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