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Potential Buyout for Jeff Skinner by the Buffalo Sabres

Potential Buyout for Jeff Skinner by the Buffalo Sabres

June 18, 2024

The Buffalo Sabres are considering a big move that would free up some more cap space for the summer.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported on Tuesday’s episode of The Jeff Marek Show that a buyout of the final three years of Jeff Skinner‘s contract “is a possibility.”

“I do think it’s possible,” Friedman reported when asked by Marek. “Obviously, nobody here is talking… but there have been some rumblings around the league that that is a possibility.”

Buyouts cannot be processed until 48 hours after the Stanley Cup Final ends.

The buyout would pay Skinner two-thirds of his remaining salary over the next six seasons. Here is how the buyout will count against the Sabres’ salary cap, according to Capfriendly.

After accounting for the buyout, the Sabres will have more than $30 million in salary cap space to make additions to their roster this summer as they try to snap the longest playoff drought in the NHL, which currently stands at 13 seasons.

Skinner, 32, is coming off a down season in which he scored just 24 goals and 46 points in 74 games last season. He has 357 goals and 670 points in 1,006 NHL games.

The Buffalo Sabres have been making headlines recently with rumors swirling about a potential buyout for star forward Jeff Skinner. Skinner, who signed an eight-year, $72 million contract with the Sabres in 2019, has struggled to live up to expectations since joining the team.

Skinner, who was acquired by the Sabres in a trade with the Carolina Hurricanes, was expected to be a key piece of the team’s rebuild. However, his production has declined significantly over the past few seasons, leading to speculation that the Sabres may look to part ways with him.

A buyout would allow the Sabres to free up cap space and potentially pursue other players in free agency. However, it would also come with a hefty price tag. Skinner is owed $9 million in each of the next six seasons, meaning that a buyout would result in a significant cap hit for the Sabres over the next few years.

Despite his struggles on the ice, Skinner still has value as a player. He is a former 40-goal scorer and has shown flashes of his scoring ability during his time with the Sabres. Some believe that a change of scenery could help him rediscover his form and become a productive player once again.

Ultimately, the decision to buy out Skinner will come down to the Sabres’ management and coaching staff. They will need to weigh the financial implications of a buyout against the potential benefits of keeping Skinner on the roster. Whatever they decide, it is clear that Skinner’s future with the Sabres is uncertain and will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike.