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Sabers cut $72M forward Jeff Skinner to Islanders

Sabers cut M forward Jeff Skinner to Islanders

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - FEBRUARY 20: Jeff Skinner #53 of the Buffalo Sabers stretches before the game against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on February 20, 2021 in Newark, New Jersey.  (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

After a brutal start to the 2021 campaign, Jeff Skinner is a healthy scratch for Monday night’s Buffalo Sabers game against the New York Islanders.

Before Casey Mittelstadt will replace Skinner in the Sabres’ lineup.

Sabers head coach Ralph Krueger informed the media of his roster shakeup just hours before puck drop, confirming his decision to follow through on threats to bench their $72 million forward after Skinner’s dismal start to the season.

“I just think it’s good for Jeff to take a look once from the outside and we have coaches active with him, working together to make him come back as an even stronger player,” said Krueger to a media group on Zoom Monday evening. afternoon.

The Sabers have been nothing short of a disaster this season and Skinner has been part of it.

Skinner relies on Jack Eichel rumors

After leading the Sabers during the 2018-19 season, posting career highs of 40 goals and 63 points, the Skinners’ production has dropped significantly since signing an eight-year, $72 million contract with the club. In 59 games last season, Skinner had just 14 goals and 23 points.

This year, Skinner has only managed one assist in 14 games while seeing his TOI drop to under 14 minutes, almost five minutes less per game than two seasons ago.

The Sabres, in full-blown hustle mode, are trying just about everything at the moment as they currently toil in the basement of the NHL East Division, once again well behind a playoff spot . Adding to their place at the bottom of the rankings is a resurgence of rumors that Jack Eichel wants to leave Buffalo. Considering everything else, could you blame him?

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