Confirmed with Link: Jeff Skinner re-signs. 8 years, $9M AAV

[jc17]

The best thing about the Skinner buyout discourse is that it’s like 95% “I don’t want to carry that cap penalty for three extra years” or “they better spend the money or this is just a Pegula cap saving move again”

You know what is almost never said? “We’re losing a good player” or “how are we going to replace him?”

To me this remains a lot about putting heir money where their mouths are in wanting to be harder to play against. Because Skinner has no place in that. He’s downright terrible when off the top line…and this isn’t a serious team if you continue to allow him to float around the top line.

Lindy isn’t going to play him there. He can’t play anywhere else. As the veteran on the team loved in the room…young guys looking up to their highest paid, most veteran forward and how he does (and doesn’t) play is a negative to me.

As far as I’m concerned…New goal song just dropped

He's been a net positive player. While only producing on the top line is annoying, its not meaningless and will be a loss.

While moving on from him could be beneficial, I just hope the team doesn't "addition by subtraction" themselves into failing to make up for the lost offense

 

[Ace]

He's been a net positive player. While only producing on the top line is annoying, its not meaningless and will be a loss.

While moving on from him could be beneficial, I just hope the team doesn't "addition by subtraction" themselves into failing to make up for the lost offense

How much offense do they lose because of his passes to nowhere whenever a defender gets near him? Things aren’t just quantified by well…he could score 30…he gives up possession way too many times before he gets one. That’s team offense being stifled. I don’t care about his personal numbers. He’s a selfish player who gets numbers if, and only if, you commit top line ice time to him.

And that is not even getting into how he impacts team defense.

He’s not a net positive for the Buffalo Sabres. He’s a net positive for Jeff Skinner.

And that’s when he’s not on the third line. Where he is an unqualified disaster.

 

[jc17]

How much offense do they lose because of his passes to nowhere whenever a defender gets near him? Things aren’t just quantified by well…he could score 30…he gives up possession way too many times before he gets one. That’s team offense being stifled. I don’t care about his personal numbers. He’s a selfish player who gets numbers if, and only if, you commit top line ice time to him.

And that is not even getting into how he impacts team defense.

He’s not a net positive for the Buffalo Sabres. He’s a net positive for Jeff Skinner.

And that’s when he’s not on the third line. Where he is an unqualified disaster.

Its impressive that he's been like top 1 or 2 in goal differential on this team despite being a net negative...

The "he can't play top 6 / won't play bottom 6" thing has become such overblown hyperbole. And I'll concede the shot/chance differentials are worse, but still. Hopefully it changes in the next week, but this team is not remotely in a position to say Jeff Skinner can't be a second liner.

So buy him out and save some cap, get a better PP guy, get a stronger culture, that's great. But there's a ridiculous amount of scape-goating going on here, and if the organization has the same mindset that he had no positive contribution to replace, we're in trouble.

 

[old kummelweck]

Except that buying him out saves $7.3 M in actual dollars which matters to Pegula. People keep missing that.

Pegula wont buy out skinner because he's cheap. Pegula will buy out skinner because he's cheap.

Bases covered I guess.

 

[MOGlLNY]

Its impressive that he's been like top 1 or 2 in goal differential on this team despite being a net negative...

The "he can't play top 6 / won't play bottom 6" thing has become such overblown hyperbole. And I'll concede the shot/chance differentials are worse, but still. Hopefully it changes in the next week, but this team is not remotely in a position to say Jeff Skinner can't be a second liner.
View attachment 887526

So buy him out and save some cap, get a better PP guy, get a stronger culture, that's great. But there's a ridiculous amount of scape-goating going on here, and if the organization has the same mindset that he had no positive contribution to replace, we're in trouble.

Nobody is saying Jeff Skinner was the difference between us making the playoffs and not. Literally nobody.

He is ONE OF the problems that needs to be carved out in order to reshape the team into one that's actually going to win games. He is the poster boy of everything people hated about this team last year - soft, no forecheck, doesn't go to the net, shies away from contact, turnovers like crazy.

His spot on the roster and cap hit makes construction difficult if we are trying to face lift this team. Not to mention with more prospects that play his position for much cheaper down the line.

This is management also letting players know that this kinda play isn't gonna fly anymore. I'm glad they're being proactive and not reactive to this.

 

[allsilverdreams]

This is a start in the right direction

 

[HogtownSabresfan]

Pegula wont buy out skinner because he's cheap. Pegula will buy out skinner because he's cheap.

Bases covered I guess.

Let's see him buy Skinner out and the spend close to $88 M. He does that and it could make some sense.

 

[Zman5778]

Let's see him buy Skinner out and the spend close to $88 M. He does that and it could make some sense.

Define "close".

 

[Mattilaus]

Not at all. There’s literally no point in being a told you so.

I don’t think they will acquire anything good with the cap space created. My reasoning is Adams’ track record. Adams is not a serious GM. In way over his head.

You could ADD to the thread by telling us all some moves you would like to see that you believe the team will not do.

Even the most pessimistic posters on here will throw around their ideas of what they would like to see but you seem satisfied just complaining.

 

[Beerz]

Nobody is saying Jeff Skinner was the difference between us making the playoffs and not. Literally nobody.

He is ONE OF the problems that needs to be carved out in order to reshape the team into one that's actually going to win games. He is the poster boy of everything people hated about this team last year - soft, no forecheck, doesn't go to the net, shies away from contact, turnovers like crazy.

His spot on the roster and cap hit makes construction difficult if we are trying to face lift this team. Not to mention with more prospects that play his position for much cheaper down the line.

This is management also letting players know that this kinda play isn't gonna fly anymore. I'm glad they're being proactive and not reactive to this.

That isn't true.. Ive seen a few people assert that talking point about Skinner

 

[HogtownSabresfan]

Define "close".

$85 M or even $86 M. Sure. Leave some cash for rookie bonuses. If it is like the past season, 10% below cap, that is NOT close.

 

[Irie]

I feel like the likely direction here may not be the sexy "replace Skinner on the top line with a top 6 forward from outside the organization", but to replace skinner from within (maybe keep JJP up on the top line), and then replace 3rd line Skinner with a legitimate bottom 6 role player.

That feels much more "Adams-ish" in terms of cap cost, salary cost, and acquisition cost.

 

[Sabre Dance]

You could ADD to the thread by telling us all some moves you would like to see that you believe the team will not do.

Even the most pessimistic posters on here will throw around their ideas of what they would like to see but you seem satisfied just complaining.

I didn’t list players but I listed what I think we need in the roster thread.

I’m not complaining. I made a statement to someone saying buying out Skinner shows they are serious again.

 

[Zman5778]

I feel like the likely direction here may not be the sexy "replace Skinner on the top line with a top 6 forward from outside the organization", but to replace skinner from within (maybe keep JJP up on the top line), and then replace 3rd line Skinner with a legitimate bottom 6 role player.

That feels much more "Adams-ish" in terms of cap cost, salary cost, and acquisition cost.

Agreed. I feel like Skinner's replacement (assuming he's bought out) is already in the organization.

I feel like the top 6 is going to be: Tage, Tuch, Cozens, JJP, Quinn and then 1 of Benson, Savoie, Kulich or Rosen.

I think where Adams is most likely to (over) spend is bottom 6 wings, 1 bottom 6 center and MAYBE a bottom 4 RHD.

 

[Fezzy126]

Its impressive that he's been like top 1 or 2 in goal differential on this team despite being a net negative...

The "he can't play top 6 / won't play bottom 6" thing has become such overblown hyperbole. And I'll concede the shot/chance differentials are worse, but still. Hopefully it changes in the next week, but this team is not remotely in a position to say Jeff Skinner can't be a second liner.
View attachment 887526

So buy him out and save some cap, get a better PP guy, get a stronger culture, that's great. But there's a ridiculous amount of scape-goating going on here, and if the organization has the same mindset that he had no positive contribution to replace, we're in trouble.

I'm with you... His on ice play drives me nuts, but I've repeatedly pointed out that he's a net positive. If it's so easy to be a net positive on this team then why doesn't anyone else post consistent positive results?

Of our top 10 guys in 5v5 GF%:

1. Traded
2. Still here
3. Everyone wants to trade
4. Probably in the AHL this year
5. Still here
6. Getting bought out
7. Everyone hates him, or want him as the organization's 8/9 defensemen
8. Still here
9. Still here
10. Hated by most fans

I support a buyout because I think they can do better from a roster construction standpoint, but his on ice impacts will not be easily replaced.

 

[Fjordy]

Agreed. I feel like Skinner's replacement (assuming he's bought out) is already in the organization.

I feel like the top 6 is going to be: Tage, Tuch, Cozens, JJP, Quinn and then 1 of Benson, Savoie, Kulich or Rosen.

I think where Adams is most likely to (over) spend is bottom 6 wings, 1 bottom 6 center and MAYBE a bottom 4 RHD.

I think it's too young, Lindy will ask Adams for experienced players, as he did in the Devils (Palat, Toffoli, Meier).

 

[Zman5778]

I think it's too young, Lindy will ask Adams for experienced players, as he did in the Devils (Palat, Toffoli, Meier).

Was that Lindy asking, or the GM just giving him that?

I'll believe Adams brings in a legit top 6 option when I see it.

 

[Fjordy]

I'm with you... His on ice play drives me nuts, but I've repeatedly pointed out that he's a net positive. If it's so easy to be a net positive on this team then why doesn't anyone else post consistent positive results?

View attachment 887596

Of our top 10 guys in 5v5 GF%:

1. Traded
2. Still here
3. Everyone wants to trade
4. Probably in the AHL this year
5. Still here
6. Getting bought out
7. Everyone hates him, or want him as the organization's 8/9 defensemen
8. Still here
9. Still here
10. Hated by most fans

I support a buyout because I think they can do better from a roster construction standpoint, but his on ice impacts will not be easily replaced.

Is it that hard? He almost always played on the first line with Thompson and Tuck. Not physical, doesn't play defense, not a good PP, doesn't play the PK. There are quite a few players in the league who can score 25-35 goals and be much more useful than Skinner in other things.

Also, we have to take into account that our coach is now Lindy Ruff (and I'm sure he doesn't need Skinner, he needs Coleman, Buchnevich or someone like that). It was under Granato that we played without any defense system and just had fun. Lindy said in an interview that the team needs to improve its overall defense.

Was that Lindy asking, or the GM just giving him that?

I'll believe Adams brings in a legit top 6 option when I see it.

I have no idea how they interacted with the Jersey GM.

It doesn't have to be a top 6 forward, it could be a top 9 forward who can easily play top 6 (if needed). But overall our team is really young.

 

[Zman5778]

But overall our team is really young.

Totally and 100% agreed, and I do think veteran help is coming.

I just think our veteran additions will be more for the bottom 6 than the top 6.

 

[Fjordy]

Totally and 100% agreed, and I do think veteran help is coming.

I just think our veteran additions will be more for the bottom 6 than the top 6.

Not sure if it's just bottom 6, but we'll see.

 

[slip]

Sometimes removing players is the best addition to a roster.

 

[MOGlLNY]

Friedman also let it slip on TJMS today that they're buying out Skinner.

 

[Fjordy]

Friedman also let it slip on TJMS today that they're buying out Skinner.

31 million

Let's go

 

[Sabre the Win]

That isn't true.. Ive seen a few people assert that talking point about Skinner

Yeah I felt like taking receipts for when Skinner goes to another team and wins the cup.

 

[MOGlLNY]

Yeah I felt like taking receipts for when Skinner goes to another team and wins the cup.

I don't understand the fear of worrying about what a player is going to do once he's gone.

People were complaining that Adams ran it back and we all wanted change on the roster well he's doing it and now everybody is gonna say everyone we get rid of is gonna win the Stanley Cup.

Who cares? If Adams fills his cap space with proper players and we make the playoffs does it matter what Jeff Skinner does? The guy who was a free agent and could sign with any team he wanted? Of course he's going to have a run next year, the guy is picking his next team.