At some point, you just have to feel bad for Jeff Skinner.
The 2010 seventh-overall pick looked to be a franchise player right away, with a 31 goal campaign leading him to winning the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie, but years of inconsistency plagued him.
The former Carolina Hurricanes star would have a red hot season but then immediately regress in the next leading to much frustration, but he was still one of the only bright spots of the dark decade he played in.
Ultimately, things needed to change on the ice for Carolina following all the changes up top, and moving Skinner was one of the top priorities.
He was due a massive pay raise and with Rod Brind'Amour coming in, his complete lack of defensive play wasn't going to cut it.
He was traded to the Buffalo Sabres in 2018, one year before the Canes snapped their decade-long playoff drought.
Now, with the Sabres potentially about to turn a corner (but let's be honest, how likely is that), Skinner is reportedly rumored to be on the chopping block again.
On The Jeff Marek Show, Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman stated that, "There's been some rumblings around the league that [buying out Jeff Skinner] is a possibility. ... 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."
According to CapFriendly.com, Skinner's buyout would cost the Sabres $19,666,670 in cap hit spread out over six seasons.
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Skinner has played in 1,006 NHL games without once tasting the postseason. That's the NHL record, by the way.
He's 15th among active players in goals with 357 goals and he has 313 assists to go along with them.
Skinner is a very talented offensive player, but an overinflated contract — three more years left on an eight-year, $9 million AAV contract with a full no-movement clause — and a total lack of any sort of defensive skill has left a sour taste in the mouth of many.
He's a very efficient goal scorer, an agile skater, but at age 32, Skinner's best days are more than likely behind him.
However, he can still play and perhaps if bought out, he will go to a contender who can finally let Skinner experience the joys of playoff hockey.
Because Jeffy's just a great and positive guy, a lone bright spot for many Hurricanes fans from a depressing time, and someone like him deserves to be able to have that experience.
(Not with the Hurricanes).
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