The full offseason hasn’t played out to safely say the Skinner buyout was more of cash savings than we thought, but it’s trending in that direction.
That doesnt fit the Pegula cheap narrative though
My money is on it being a little bit of both.
It's probably a lot like Adams.. Pegula was spending money on guys who were highly recommended and getting zero results. He could get zero results hiring Adams and spending less. I think the prevailing opinion is the Sabres will finish roughly in the same place in the standings with or without Skinner so why pay him for that?
Oh they just happen to be the team with the most cap space every year -- Adams is accidentally saving the owner a ton of cash every year when he's not even being asked to! How fortunate for Pegula!!
I thought he had a fair amount of garbage goals, despite the contact avoiding reputation. Or we talking strictly Dzone?
As many have noted, he'd have been a top 10 pick if he was physical at all...and wouldn't have been available for trade.
Was the scoreboard going to pay for itself?Oh they just happen to be the team with the most cap space every year -- Adams is accidentally saving the owner a ton of cash every year when he's not even being asked to! How fortunate for Pegula!!
I definitely believe that Skinner was bought out primarily because Lindy looked at Skinner kind of like RBA did and wanted him nowhere near his roster.
I can't speak for everyone's thoughts, but my "narrative" is that since covid Pegula has decided to cut costs in a variety of ways. He settled on a guy that can push the "we need patience for guys to develop during (yet another) re-build" to fans and media, to justify being around the cap floor for several years. He's been "efficient" with both on-ice and off-ice costs, which ultimately I don't demonize him for as a fan of capitalism and free will. He can do what he wants but I won't hesitate to call it it what it is. I also don't assume he'll continue operating this way forever, but I can't predict when he will go back to max spending either. The way the franchise and fans base have been kicked in the dirt, it's got to change soon.
My frustration is that there is so little cap-advantage over year two and three, and clearly not much in this first year, that I'd rather keep him and be done with him in three summers. I believe the right HC, staff and culture should be able to minimize Skinner's deficiencies, especially during (yet another) couple seasons when the team won't be a Cup contender anyway.
If RBA wanted him out, I didn't have high hopes that Lindy would "fix him." It also think that moving Skinner out may have been a culture move as Lindy may have viewed Skinner as a guy that was happy cashing checks and scoring goals and not winning.
I get what you’re saying but Lindy should know Skinner pretty well as a player. He’s coached in this league a long time and been up against him quite a bit. I don’t think he ordered him bought out but definitely was involved in it happening.
Everyone close to the team said he was very well liked in the dressing room, so I'd agree.
you're saying they will be under (Skinner's salary minus the buyout cost) the salary cap for the next 6 years ?
No I think he's saying if I don't have to spend more than what Skinner's contract will be in the end, I'll do it.
I agree from the overall vision stand point, but yeah its the idea of it being his order that I disagree with.
If the scoreboard makes a sound but no one is in the arena to hear it....
