The veteran winger has three years left on an eight-year, $72 million contract
The veteran winger has three years left on an eight-year, $72 million contract
It has been uncertain whether the Buffalo Sabres would deviate from their normal practice of avoiding buyouts or retaining salary on existing contracts, but according to Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman on Wednesday’s 32 Thoughts podcast, it is beginning to appear that the club will buy out the final three years of veteran Jeff Skinner’s contract when the NHL’s buyout window opens up 48 hours after the Stanley Cup Final.
The 32-year-old’s production dropped from 35 goals in 2023 to 24 goals last season and Skinner was dropped from the top line to the third line late in the year. Friedman indicated that the chatter regarding a potential buyout started percolating last weekend, but there has been no word confirming this from the Sabres or Skinner’s representative, Don Meehan.
Buffalo could ask Skinner to waive his no-movement clause to facilitate a trade, but Friedman said that might only be an option if he were to be moved to a destination of his choosing. Otherwise, a buyout would give the veteran winger two-thirds of the $22 million owed on the final three years of his eight-year, $72 million contract and complete control of where he may play.
If the Sabres were to exercise this option, GM Kevyn Adams would be able to clear $7.55 million in cap space for the 2024-25 season, which could be used to sign free agents or acquire players who more fit new head coach Lindy Ruff's style of play. The buyout would result in a cap hit of $4.44 million in 2025-26, $6.44 million in 2026-27, and $2.44 million for the 2027-28, 2028-29, and 2029-30 seasons.
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