So… the Sabres are almost definitely buying him out and he wasn’t willing to waive his no trade clause so that he can have more control over a UFA destination.
I am not going to be humble about my victory lap after the shit I got in my mock off season for buying him out for that exact reason. The only reason Friedman is talking about this is because someone wants him to be talking about it.
seeldoger47
Conversation starts at the 30:23 mark.
>On Tuesday on the radio show, you and I discussed the possibility of a Jeff Skinner buyout with the Buffalo Sabres. Do you care to expand?
> So this is something that has been floating around hockey circles for probably, at least it reached my ears about three or four days ago. And the tough thing is that the Sabres aren’t saying anything.
>He’s represented by Don Meehan.
>Don Meehan is keeping quiet about it. And what someone else said to me was that you have to be careful because the buyout window doesn’t begin until 48 hours after the Stanley Cup is awarded.
>So things can always change.
>But I do think it was going to get out. It was something that more and more people were talking about. Now, someone said to me, why don’t the Sabres ask him to wave his no move clause? And the thing is that if you’re Jeff Skinner in this situation and you know the Sabres may want to move on from you, A, you want to control things. That’s what you want to do. You want to be in control of the situation.
>So it’s probably better for you unless you’re absolutely convinced that Buffalo can trade you to a place you want to go. It’s probably better for you to say no, just buy me out and let me go to a place that I want to go. And secondly, his contract is $9 million.
>If we go to a situation where he’s an unrestricted free agent, he can take his buyout, which is two-thirds of $22 million over six years, and he can pick it at whatever salary he wants. Skinner has much more control over the situation as an unrestricted free agent getting to pick his destination at his salary. So I think that’s why Buffalo is kind of in this position.
>The other interesting thing about it, there’s a couple. Number one, for next year, his cap hit would be under $1.5 million using Capitals Friendly, and so it would give Buffalo an extra $7.5 million of cap room. And next year is a huge year for the Sabres.
>The other thing that kind of interested me about it too is that they’re looking for, they’re believed to be looking for a couple forwards. One, one of those edgier depth pieces that we’ve been talking about, but also a top six forward if they could. And you know Skinner, he had 24 goals last year.
>He scored 40 before, he scored 30 before. I know the big knock on him is, you know, he’s played over a thousand games, he’s never made the playoffs, but he can score. So it’s a really, really interesting move by the Sabres that will give them a ton of flexibility for next year should it happen.
>But, you know, I always try to be careful with what I say unless I 100% know. So I can’t say 100% it’s going to happen, but it’s definitely out there. And I think we’re just waiting to see if Buffalo makes a final decision.
Straight_Landscape37
Aside from potential add-ons via trade/free agency does the Skinner buyout finally open the door for someone like Kulich?
sadbuffalosportsfan
Boy I hope this happens. While Skinner scores, his lack of defense gives up more goals against when he’s on the ice. Addition by subtraction.
the_missing_worker
I’m not happy about the realization that a Skinner trade is a pipe dream. So with that in mind: Skinner for McDavid, straight up, final offer.
doihavetohaveone23
Seems like a GMKA whisper to Friedman to get the word out. This has been pretty sudden. Prolly a chess move to get skinner to waive his NMC for a trade.
6 Comments
So… the Sabres are almost definitely buying him out and he wasn’t willing to waive his no trade clause so that he can have more control over a UFA destination.
I am not going to be humble about my victory lap after the shit I got in my mock off season for buying him out for that exact reason. The only reason Friedman is talking about this is because someone wants him to be talking about it.
Conversation starts at the 30:23 mark.
>On Tuesday on the radio show, you and I discussed the possibility of a Jeff Skinner buyout with the Buffalo Sabres. Do you care to expand?
>
So this is something that has been floating around hockey circles for probably, at least it reached my ears about three or four days ago. And the tough thing is that the Sabres aren’t saying anything.
>He’s represented by Don Meehan.
>Don Meehan is keeping quiet about it. And what someone else said to me was that you have to be careful because the buyout window doesn’t begin until 48 hours after the Stanley Cup is awarded.
>So things can always change.
>But I do think it was going to get out. It was something that more and more people were talking about. Now, someone said to me, why don’t the Sabres ask him to wave his no move clause? And the thing is that if you’re Jeff Skinner in this situation and you know the Sabres may want to move on from you, A, you want to control things. That’s what you want to do. You want to be in control of the situation.
>So it’s probably better for you unless you’re absolutely convinced that Buffalo can trade you to a place you want to go. It’s probably better for you to say no, just buy me out and let me go to a place that I want to go. And secondly, his contract is $9 million.
>If we go to a situation where he’s an unrestricted free agent, he can take his buyout, which is two-thirds of $22 million over six years, and he can pick it at whatever salary he wants. Skinner has much more control over the situation as an unrestricted free agent getting to pick his destination at his salary. So I think that’s why Buffalo is kind of in this position.
>The other interesting thing about it, there’s a couple. Number one, for next year, his cap hit would be under $1.5 million using Capitals Friendly, and so it would give Buffalo an extra $7.5 million of cap room. And next year is a huge year for the Sabres.
>The other thing that kind of interested me about it too is that they’re looking for, they’re believed to be looking for a couple forwards. One, one of those edgier depth pieces that we’ve been talking about, but also a top six forward if they could. And you know Skinner, he had 24 goals last year.
>He scored 40 before, he scored 30 before. I know the big knock on him is, you know, he’s played over a thousand games, he’s never made the playoffs, but he can score. So it’s a really, really interesting move by the Sabres that will give them a ton of flexibility for next year should it happen.
>But, you know, I always try to be careful with what I say unless I 100% know. So I can’t say 100% it’s going to happen, but it’s definitely out there. And I think we’re just waiting to see if Buffalo makes a final decision.
Aside from potential add-ons via trade/free agency does the Skinner buyout finally open the door for someone like Kulich?
Boy I hope this happens. While Skinner scores, his lack of defense gives up more goals against when he’s on the ice. Addition by subtraction.
I’m not happy about the realization that a Skinner trade is a pipe dream. So with that in mind: Skinner for McDavid, straight up, final offer.
Seems like a GMKA whisper to Friedman to get the word out. This has been pretty sudden. Prolly a chess move to get skinner to waive his NMC for a trade.