Insiders discuss possibility of Sabres forward Jeff Skinner being bought out

"If the Cup is awarded tonight, then the buyout window opens 48 hours afterwards and a couple of names we are wondering about." Jeff Marek said.

He added, "It's kind of been whispered for a while now and I'm curious your thoughts on this one. I'll throw a dart and throw the name Jeff Skinner, Buffalo Sabres out there."

"Well there's a reason you're throwing that dart and we've been talking about it for the last couple of days. I do think it's possible. I don't think, you know obviously nobody here is talking, as you said that it's 48 hours after the Stanley Cup Final ends. But there's some rumblings around the league that that is a possibility. Now, it's a six-year buyout, Skinner has three-years remaining on his deal. I think he's got $22 million in salary remaining on his deal, so it would be two-thirds the money over six years." Friedman said.

He added, "But the one thing that stands out is that next season, like there's one year that's really big, I think there's one year that $6.5 million, but the rest of it, especially if the cap goes where it's supposed to go, it'll be very manageable. But the one thing that stands out is that next year would give them a $7.5 million relief. His cap hit next season would be just under $1.5 million as opposed to $9 million and next year is a big year for the Sabres. That's why it raises a lot of eyebrows. Like I said, the Sabres aren't talking and nobody is really talking here, but the word is definitely out there that a Skinner buyout is a possibility."