[Sportsnet 590] “The word is definitely out there that a (Jeff) Skinner buyout is a possibility.” @FriedgeHNIC discusses #LetsGoBuffalo offseason plans for the veteran and the three remaining years on his contract with @JeffMarek.
June 18, 2024
[Sportsnet 590] “The word is definitely out there that a (Jeff) Skinner buyout is a possibility.” @FriedgeHNIC discusses #LetsGoBuffalo offseason plans for the veteran and the three remaining years on his contract with @JeffMarek.
14 comments
Where there is smoke there is fire. Adams and Ruff have said nothing to make me think otherwise.
In the video Friedman says that while the hit is bad in a few years, there is an expectation that the cap will rise and the ~$7mil in savings next season is attractive to them knowing it’s a make or break season.
If Adams does that he’s 100% cooking up a big top 6 acquisition. The balls. The balls.
For those wondering, a buyout would make Skinner’s cap hits for the next six seasons:
2024-25: $1.4M ($7.5M savings)
2025-26: $4.4M ($4.5M savings)
2026-27: $6.4M ($2.5M savings)
2027-28: $2.4M ($2.4M cost)
2028-29: $2.4M ($2.4M cost)
2029-30: $2.4M ($2.4M cost)
The reason you buy him out this year isn’t on ice, it’s that the no fucks given attitude is getting chemotherapied out of the locker room.
And I’m all for that.
A Skinner buyout would send a message in a big way that Adams is really trying to change the dynamic of the forward group to push a more winning brand of hockey.
He just sticks out like a sore thumb as someone who doesn’t seem to fit the bill for what we need in the top nine going forward.
If we can replace Skinner with somebody who can either drive play offensively (Ehlers?, Konecny?) or play a much more responsible two way game (Buchnevich?, Marner?) and also find somebody to fit that shutdown line center role I think it would do wonders for this group overall.
My only two objections to buying our Skinner are that I’m curious about how Lindy could use him and also doesn’t seem like we’d be needing that cap space this year, even if/when they do make a move. If that’s the case, just waive him or let him ride the bench. Regardless, the reality is that this team needs to be harder to play against and Skinner has proved incapable of that minus some trash talk.
This is more obvious than the Sabres being interested in John Gibson for the 12th year in a row
I don’t see a buyout happening this year. I think it becomes a lot more feasible next year with less long term impact if I remember right.
24 goals is a significant thing to need to replace. With the cap hit on the buyout, I don’t see this as worth it.
I really don’t know about this one. I am no Skinner fan, but a buyout is so extreme. It’s not like he was completely deadweight, this basically locks Peterka into 1LW with no competition (barring an expensive acquisition), and it still costs a ton exactly when we need to sign Benson and Levi.
It does open us for business on a $$$x2 years contract offer to Stamkos or Kane or someone else.
It makes so much more sense in most ways after this year. Except for GMKA knowing he’s to be fired and so mortgaging them for now.
My biggest worry is that we haven’t spent to the cap the past few years anyway, so this just buys out a player and hopes even more that our ELCs pan out.
Seems like such a waste of cap space to me. Reeks of panic that you can’t wait another year. I’d rather play him in a top 6/pp role for a year, pump his value and eat as little as possible in a trade next year.
I don’t think I realized just how do or die things were for KA until now. If we miss the playoffs the front office is getting flipped completely. Future cap hits don’t matter to a fired GM.
I didn’t think this was happening this year and thought it would be a bad move (still kinda do), but now I think it’s happening. We’re going all in. Hope it works.
This makes almost no sense. But I guess Lindy wants to blow up the core.
I thought this would be better next summer, but seeing OEL bought out in Vancouver… this could end up ok! Also big cap rise this year and probably significant next 2 years as well. Let’s sign some free agents!!!
14 comments
Where there is smoke there is fire. Adams and Ruff have said nothing to make me think otherwise.
In the video Friedman says that while the hit is bad in a few years, there is an expectation that the cap will rise and the ~$7mil in savings next season is attractive to them knowing it’s a make or break season.
If Adams does that he’s 100% cooking up a big top 6 acquisition. The balls. The balls.
For those wondering, a buyout would make Skinner’s cap hits for the next six seasons:
2024-25: $1.4M ($7.5M savings)
2025-26: $4.4M ($4.5M savings)
2026-27: $6.4M ($2.5M savings)
2027-28: $2.4M ($2.4M cost)
2028-29: $2.4M ($2.4M cost)
2029-30: $2.4M ($2.4M cost)
The reason you buy him out this year isn’t on ice, it’s that the no fucks given attitude is getting chemotherapied out of the locker room.
And I’m all for that.
A Skinner buyout would send a message in a big way that Adams is really trying to change the dynamic of the forward group to push a more winning brand of hockey.
He just sticks out like a sore thumb as someone who doesn’t seem to fit the bill for what we need in the top nine going forward.
If we can replace Skinner with somebody who can either drive play offensively (Ehlers?, Konecny?) or play a much more responsible two way game (Buchnevich?, Marner?) and also find somebody to fit that shutdown line center role I think it would do wonders for this group overall.
My only two objections to buying our Skinner are that I’m curious about how Lindy could use him and also doesn’t seem like we’d be needing that cap space this year, even if/when they do make a move. If that’s the case, just waive him or let him ride the bench. Regardless, the reality is that this team needs to be harder to play against and Skinner has proved incapable of that minus some trash talk.
This is more obvious than the Sabres being interested in John Gibson for the 12th year in a row
I don’t see a buyout happening this year. I think it becomes a lot more feasible next year with less long term impact if I remember right.
24 goals is a significant thing to need to replace. With the cap hit on the buyout, I don’t see this as worth it.
I really don’t know about this one. I am no Skinner fan, but a buyout is so extreme. It’s not like he was completely deadweight, this basically locks Peterka into 1LW with no competition (barring an expensive acquisition), and it still costs a ton exactly when we need to sign Benson and Levi.
It does open us for business on a $$$x2 years contract offer to Stamkos or Kane or someone else.
It makes so much more sense in most ways after this year. Except for GMKA knowing he’s to be fired and so mortgaging them for now.
My biggest worry is that we haven’t spent to the cap the past few years anyway, so this just buys out a player and hopes even more that our ELCs pan out.
Seems like such a waste of cap space to me. Reeks of panic that you can’t wait another year. I’d rather play him in a top 6/pp role for a year, pump his value and eat as little as possible in a trade next year.
I don’t think I realized just how do or die things were for KA until now. If we miss the playoffs the front office is getting flipped completely. Future cap hits don’t matter to a fired GM.
I didn’t think this was happening this year and thought it would be a bad move (still kinda do), but now I think it’s happening. We’re going all in. Hope it works.
This makes almost no sense. But I guess Lindy wants to blow up the core.
I thought this would be better next summer, but seeing OEL bought out in Vancouver… this could end up ok! Also big cap rise this year and probably significant next 2 years as well. Let’s sign some free agents!!!