Actually, the more I look at this, the more I see a huge pivotal opportunity for Buffalo. They have not had success. Eichel, Reinhart and Ristolainen all should be on the block with intentions to trade them before the start of training camp. All 3 players have spoken out, somewhat delicately, about their disappointment in the teams success. I know first hand how that can spread through a group of people, actually creating a problem. Buffalo could remove them and get an insane amount of assets back.
Then they say publicly or privately, we have 3 years to retool this roster. At the end of Okposo's contract, that offseason they need to have the pieces that they are looking for to compete rather than develop. There would only be 4 years left on Skinner's contract, who could raise his stock as well. Regardless, unless he's playing like a $9m player or brings some other intangible that must be kept on the roster, you retain 50% for 4 years and get the best assets back you possibly can. That leaves $4.5m additional cap to go after a name.
Chalk up this rebuild as a failure and pivot. Successful companies do it all the time, the NHL is a business and they need to make the decisions of a successful business.
Arizona is primed to get extra value out of an Eichel trade which sets Buffalo up for success down the road.
Edit: I need to make sure this is out there, I am not saying Eichel, Reinhart or Risto are problems. I am saying that they could be a problem for Buffalo. It's an important distinction.