By all accounts, when Jeff Skinner was drafted in the first round, seventh overall in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, by the Carolina Hurricanes, it was a good fit for all parties involved. However, as it goes, especially in professional hockey, things change, and the chance of having a team give up on you for one reason or another occurs, and you're forced to move on. This is the scenario that Skinner faced in the summer of 2018.
Skinner went to Buffalo and ultimately signed a long-term contract with the Sabres for 8 years for $72 million, which at the time seemed like a steal for a young forward with tremendous potential and upside. However, after six seasons and a remarkable downturn in production, it looks like the Sabres would like to move on from the 32-year-old left winger.
There are many issues surrounding the idea of the Sabres trying to trade Skinner. While production, as noted, has dropped, the salary itself is, in part, a large problem. Would the Sabres be willing to eat a chunk of his remaining contract, or would they give up assets to sweeten the trade? That's the question, and the answer remains unknown.
If Skinner were to depart, it would give the Sabres and their young core and prospects an opportunity to see what they've got and maybe the spark needed to make the playoffs once again. Obviously, with him in the lineup, players like Dylan Cozens and Jack Quinn haven't had much of an opportunity with the top six forward group, but with him gone, that would change. But how do you convince a player with a ridiculous contract and a NMC that it's time to move on for the sake of both parties involved?
