Three Potential Destinations for Jeff Skinner If Buffalo Sabres Buy Him Out

The Buffalo Sabres are considering buying out the contract of winger Jeff Skinner. If he does become a UFA, Adam Proteau lists three teams he thinks could use Skinner.

The Buffalo Sabres are considering buying out the contract of forward Jeff Skinner. 

The 32-year-old winger has three seasons remaining on a contract with an annual average value of $9 million. Despite combining for 68 goals from 2021-22 to 2022-23, Skinner’s production fell off to 24 goals and 46 points in 74 games this past season. 

That simply isn’t commensurate with his pricey salary, which means the Sabres may take the opportunity to free more salary cap space than the $23.5 million they had before Skinner’s buyout.

This move would result in the Sabres being on the hook for $1.44 million in the first season, followed by cap hits of $4.44 million in 2025-26, $6.44 million in 2026-27 and $2.44 million in each of the following three seasons.

In his pre-draft conference, Sabres GM Kevyn Adams said they have made no final decision yet on whether or not they will buy out Skinner's contract. They have until Sunday, June 30, at 5 p.m. ET to decide on a buyout.

Unfortunately for Skinner, he has not played a single Stanley Cup playoff game in his 14-year NHL career. If he becomes a UFA, these three potential fits for him could potentially finish higher than Buffalo again as they go all-in for the playoffs.

The Red Wings have more than $31.8 million in cap space, and Wings GM Steve Yzerman has shown in recent years he’s more than willing to spend money to bring in veteran help. 

Skinner could provide secondary scoring at a $5-million cap hit, and he’d be a fixture on Detroit’s second line. 

Of course, if star winger Patrick Kane chooses to return to the Wings, Skinner wouldn’t be a fit. But something tells us Kane will be playing somewhere else in 2024-25, and that should open up a prime spot for Skinner. 

The Wings are a playoffs-or-bust team, and Skinner is a playoff-or-bust veteran who likely won’t sign for more than two to three seasons. He’d still be playing close to his Toronto hometown, and he’d likely help Detroit fend off his former Sabres team for one of the final playoff spots in the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference.

The Penguins might make a big splash this summer. If they free up cap space by trading veteran winger Reilly Smith, Skinner could be a fine replacement in Pittsburgh’s top-six group of forwards. 

Skinner would have to take less than $5 million to make a fit for himself with the Pens, but his scoring totals would likely rise again when he gets to play alongside the likes of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. 

Pittsburgh GM Kyle Dubas is under all sorts of pressure to get back into the playoffs this coming year, and Skinner could be a solid asset for them that doesn’t cost anything more than cap space. 

The Penguins have about $10.74 million in cap space with 18 of 23 spots filled, but loading up their top-six forwards with a proven scorer like Skinner is just what the doctor ordered for this franchise.

The Preds also could use some proven secondary scoring, and they’ve got more than $26.3 million in cap space. Skinner could come in, play on Nashville’s second line and not eat up a ton of cap space. 

Predators GM Barry Trotz was a big player on the trade and free agent fronts last summer, bringing in players such as Ryan O'Reilly, Gustav Nyquist and Jason Zucker. Landing a veteran hungry for playoff experience like Skinner is exactly the type of signing Trotz would love to make. Skinner also could find solace in a smaller market, and the Preds’ ability to be a playoff contender would move the needle.

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