Sportsnet: Elliotte Friedman and Jeff Marek on 32 Ideas: The Podcast – The Rat Pack Is Dragged Again to Edmonton episode, on the rumors surrounding a possible Jeff Skinner buyout in Buffalo.
** NHLRumors.com transcription
Friedman: “So that is one thing that has been floating round hockey circles for in all probability, at the least it reached my ears, about three or 4 days in the past. And the powerful factor is, is that , the Sabres aren’t saying something. He’s represented by Don Meehan. Don Meehan’s holding quiet about it.
And what another person mentioned to me was that you need to watch out as a result of the buyout window doesn’t start till 48 hours after the Stanley Cup is awarded, so issues can all the time change.
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So, , that’s, , however I do suppose it was going to get out. It was , one thing that an increasing number of individuals have been speaking about.
Now, , somebody mentioned to me, why don’t the Sabres ask him to waive his no-move clause and the factor is, is that in the event you’re Jeff Skinner on this state of affairs and , the Sabres might wish to transfer on from you, (a) you wish to management issues. That’s what you wish to do. You wish to be in command of the state of affairs. So it’s, so it’s in all probability higher for you, until you’re completely satisfied that Buffalo can commerce you to a spot you wish to go. It’s in all probability higher so that you can say no, simply wait, simply purchase me out. And let me go to a spot that I wish to go.
And secondly, , his contract is $9 million. If we go to a state of affairs the place he’s an unrestricted free agent, he can take his buyout, which is two-thirds of $22 million over six years, and he can choose it at no matter wage he needs. Skinner has way more management over the state of affairs as an unrestricted free agent, getting to select his vacation spot at his wage.
So I feel that’s why Buffalo is type of on this place. The opposite fascinating factor about it, there’s a pair, primary for subsequent 12 months his cap hit could be below $1.5 million utilizing Capitals Pleasant. And so it could give Buffalo an additional $7.5 million {dollars} of cap room. And subsequent 12 months is big 12 months for the Sabres.
The opposite factor that type of me about it, too, is that they’re in search of, they’re believed to be in search of a few forwards. One, a kind of edgier, depth items that we’ve been speaking about, but additionally a top-six ahead if they might.
And , Skinner, he had 24 targets final 12 months, he scored 40 earlier than, he scored 30 earlier than. I do know the large knock on him is , he’s performed it that over 1000 video games, he’s by no means made the playoffs, however he can rating.
So it’s a very, actually fascinating transfer by the Sabres that may give them a ton of flexibility for subsequent 12 months ought to it occur. However, , I all the time attempt to watch out with what I say until 100% know, so I can’t say 100% it’s gonna occur however it’s positively on the market. And I feel we’re simply ready to see if Buffalo makes a remaining determination.”
NHL Rumors: 12 Potential Buyout Candidates This Offseason
Jeff Skinner has 3 years @ $9M Cap Hit remaining.
The buyout cap hit is:
Yr 1 $1.44MYear 2 $4.44MYear 3 $6.44MYears 4 to six $2.44Mhttps://t.co/hloPsI3yZL https://t.co/o7iybuf1GL pic.twitter.com/vZecPUaBlC
— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) June 18, 2024
Commerce and buyout rumours beginning to swirl round Jeff Skinner. #LetsGoBuffalo pic.twitter.com/ZPoKuku21n
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) June 18, 2024