Sabres acquire Jeff Skinner, open up $7.5 million in cap space

Buffalo Sabers left winger Jeff Skinner (53) watches the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, in Buffalo, N.S. York (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Sabers are buying out the remaining three seasons of forward Jeff Skinner’s contract, general manager Kevyn Adams said after Saturday’s NHL draft in Las Vegas.

The move will provide Buffalo with about $7.5 million in immediate salary cap relief, and the Sabres could have more than $30 million in available salary space when free agency begins Monday.

Skinner, 32, was Buffalo’s highest-paid forward with a $9 million annual salary on the eight-year contract he signed in 2019. The Sabres will absorb $18 million in dead salary charges over six seasons because of the buyout. The cap hit rises to $4.4 million in 2025 and $6.4 million in 2026 after starting at $1.4 million next season, and settles at $2.4 million for the final three years.

Skinner scored 153 goals, ranking 18th in team history, in 457 games with the Sabres. His best season was his first, scoring 40 goals in his 2018-19 contract year after being acquired in a trade with the Carolina Hurricanes. After having his role reduced by coach Ralph Krueger for two seasons, Skinner revitalized his career in a prominent role under Don Granato, totaling 68 goals and 145 points in two seasons.

But Skinner regressed to produce 24 goals and 46 points in 2023-24. On top of that, Skinner’s defensive shortcomings made him a poor fit for returning coach Lindy Ruff. That accelerated Buffalo’s motivation to buy out his contract, and Skinner wasn’t willing to waive his no-movement clause to facilitate a trade.

Popular with fans and teammates alike, Skinner earned the dubious distinction of becoming the only player in history to play 1,000 NHL games without making the playoffs.