Skinner will have the last three years of his contract bought out by the Sabers

LAS VEGAS — Jeff Skinner will have the final three seasons of his contract bought out by the Buffalo Sabres.

“We started the process today, so it’s a step-by-step process,” Sabers general manager Kevyn Adams said at the conclusion of the 2024 NHL Draft at Sphere on Saturday. “We started this process early this morning. This is our intention for the future. »

The 32-year-old forward will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. He signed an eight-year, $72 million contract with the Sabers on June 7, 2019, with an average annual value of $9 million.

Skinner had 46 points (24 goals, 22 assists) in 74 games this season for Buffalo (39-37-6), which did not qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs for a 13th straight season. Skinner has scored 92 goals over the past three seasons, including 35 in 2022-23.

The Carolina Hurricanes’ No. 7 pick in the 2010 NHL Draft, Skinner had 670 points (357 goals, 313 assists) in 1,006 regular season games with the Sabers and Hurricanes. He has yet to play in an NHL playoff game.

Adams made a trade at the draft, acquiring forward Beck Malenstyn from the Washington Capitals in exchange for a second-round pick. The 26-year-old, who is an excellent penalty killer, set career highs in goals (six), assists (15) and points (21) in 81 regular-season games last season with the Capitals.

Adams said he wanted to do more, but couldn’t find a partner. He added that he would continue to work in the exchange market.

“There are still things that we’re working on in this area that we’ll continue to pursue, that are kind of independent of the project,” Adams said.

He also hopes to become a player in free agency, which begins Monday.

“We set the priorities exactly based on what we’re looking for, the needs, the entire organization’s forwards, defense and goaltenders,” Adams said. “Now we’re going to tackle it.” It’s always a little uncertain because it has to be a match. We have to do our best in terms of free agents and they have to want to be in Buffalo. But we have to make it work. But that’s what we need to do in the areas where we think we need to add. »