Jeff Skinner becomes first player in NHL history to achieve feat

Since the inception of the 1917–1918 season, approximately 395 players have achieved the goal of playing in one thousand games in the National Hockey League, and all of them have been fortunate to play in at least one playoff game during their career. This week, the number of players who have played in 1000 games reaches 396, but he will have a unique distinction that nobody before him holds.

Thirty-one-year-old Jeff Skinner was drafted seventh overall by the Carolina Hurricanes during the 2010 National Hockey League Entry Draft, and during his time in Carolina, the team never reached the playoffs. On August 2, 2018, Skinner was traded to the Buffalo Sabres for a package that included current Cane Pyotr Kochetkov (who was originally a 2019 2nd round pick) along with other assets.


While the circumstances of not playing a single game in the playoffs are unfortunate, accomplishing one thousand regular-season games played is a tremendous accomplishment and should be celebrated.


You can call what Skinner has experienced dumb luck, or you can suggest that Skinner has been a quality player and teammate for sticking through some very difficult times (especially in Buffalo). Congratulations to Jeff Skinner, the newest member of the 1000 games played club.