Sabres Rumored Contract Negotiations With Jeff Skinner Carries Incredible Risk
By Adam Godfrey
Buffalo Sabres forward Jeff Skinner is coming off a career high in goals with 40 last season, along with 63 points which ties his career high.
The Sabres acquired Skinner from the Carolina Hurricanes when he had one year left on his contract, and he is an unrestricted free agent this summer. However, the rumored contract extension being offered to the 27-year-old forward is a bit worrying for the Buffalo organization going forward.
#Sabres Bob MacKenzie said the @BuffaloSabres are closing in on an 8-year, $72 million (9 million AAV) deal with pending UFA Jeff Skinner. The 27-yr old winger potted 40 goals last season was a career high, while also macthing his career high in points (63). Thoughts on the AAV?
— Scrimmage & Stats (@thehockeyexpert) May 30, 2019
The contract offered from the Sabres carries an eight-year term with an annual value of $9 million, with a total of $72 million. For a player who's career high in points is 63 which he has hit three times, and a good young sniper, Buffalo is still taking a huge gamble on Skinner with not only the amount they would be giving him, but for the amount of years.
The upside is tremendous especially if he can become a consistent 30 goal scorer and exceed alongside Jack Eichel, a commitment of this magnitude could be a huge payout is all goes well. The downside however is that they could be paying elite goal scorer money to a 20 goal scorer. Not to mention his long history with concussions, this could very well backfire.
Most Even Strength Goals since 2015-16:
— Buffalo Sabres Stats (@SabresStats) May 25, 2019
1. Patrick Kane - 113
2. Alex Ovechkin - 112
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3. John Tavares - 106
3. Vlad Tarasenko - 106
6. Connor McDavid - 105
If you don’t sign Jeff Skinner, you’ll be ?????? to find another “Jeff Skinner”
The benefits would be that Skinner is third in the NHL for even strength goals scored in the past four seasons. He is ahead of players like Connor McDavid, and tied with John Tavares and Vladimir Tarasenko. He only trails Alex Ovechkin and Patrick Kane by six and seven goals respectively.
By these standards he absolutely deserves every penny that is offered to him, and if he keeps up with the big names he is accompanied by then the contract will be worth the huge contract, and will only make the Sabres a better team. While Buffalo's offer may seem high to some, considering their standing in the NHL and need to improve around a young corps, it's simply necessary to dole out this kind of cash to a proven young asset. Skinner is that, but it'll cost 'em.