LATEST UPDATE: Sabres buy out All-Star key man

Chad DeDominicis of Expected Buffalo reports that the Buffalo Sabres plan to buy out forward Jeff Skinner. Last week, Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet noted that the Sabres were considering a buyout of the final three years of Skinner’s contract. With the buyout window opening on Wednesday, it seems likely that Skinner’s time in Buffalo is coming to an end.

Skinner is owed $22 million over the final three seasons of his eight-year, $72 million contract. The buyout will be spread over the next six years, with the annual amounts being:

– Year 1: $1.44 million
– Year 2: $4.44 million
– Year 3: $6.44 million
– Year 4: $2.44 million
– Year 5: $2.44 million
– Year 6: $2.44 million

Buffalo will save $7.555 million in the first year of the buyout, giving them $31 million in cap space to work with this summer as they aim to return to the playoffs for the first time in over a decade.

For Skinner, this buyout ends a tenure in Buffalo marked by inconsistent offensive production and poor defensive play. Acquired by the Sabres in August 2018 for a package including a 2019 second-round pick, a 2020 third-round pick, a 2020 sixth-round pick, and Cliff Pu, Skinner initially appeared to be a significant acquisition, scoring 40 goals and 23 assists in 82 games. He signed a large contract extension in June 2019, but his performance declined.

Skinner struggled to maintain his 14.9% shooting percentage from the 2018-19 season, managing only 21 goals and 16 assists over the next two seasons (112 games). He rebounded in 2022-23 with 35 goals and 47 assists for a career-high 82 points in 79 games but regressed again this past season, recording 24 goals and 22 assists.

Despite his defensive shortcomings and limited puck-carrying ability, Skinner is likely to find work this summer, as many teams seek scoring help and free-agent options are scarce. He should be able to secure a short-term deal and provide secondary scoring at a reduced price point.