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Skinevitable

January 10, 2019, 9:35 PM ET [0 Comments]
GARTH'S CORNER
NHL news by Garth • RSSArchiveCONTACT
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"Show us your game face." - They said

A post shared by Jeff Skinner (@jeffskinner) on




In 579 career games played with the Carolina Hurricanes, Jeff Skinner scored 204 and 175 assists for 379 points. Skinner built and impressive body of work in his eight year career in the Research Triangle. In 2010-11, Skinner was awarded the NHL Rookie of The Year after he scored 31 goals and 32 assists. He would score 30 goals on two other ocassions.

Skinner never played a playoff game while wearing a Hurricanes sweater.

All that offense Skinner created was never enough to put the Canes over. The Canes were always the bridesmaid and never the bride in terms of playoff appearances during Skinner's tenure in Raleigh.

Last summer, Canes management made a pragmatic decision. Rather than re-sign their sniping forward to a long term contract extension, the Canes opted to trade Skinner, a pending UFA, to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for a fist full of draft choices and prospect forward Cliff Pu.

Carolina's loss is Buffalo's gain.


The Buffalo community has embraced Skinner in trademark Buffalo fashion. So too have Skinner's Sabres teammates. Skinner has enjoyed his time with the Sabres. He is thrilled by the reception he and his teammates receive from Sabres Nation at the rink and in the comminuty. Skinner also relishes playing in front of his friends and family in Buffalo. He recently told me the atmosphere in Buffalo reminds him a lot of his days playing junior hockey for the Kitchener Rangers.

The Toronto native has been a breath of fresh air for the Sabres, who finished 31st in the NHL standings last season.

I can see a spankin' new eight year, $62 million to $64 million contract extension to remain a Sabre in Skinner's near future.




In his first 43 games in a Sabres sweater, Skinner has already scored 29 goals and 42 points.





On Friday night, Skinner will play his first game against his former teammates. Skinner has been waiting patiently for this opportunity to take two points in the Eastern Conference standings away from the Canes.


On Thursday morning, Skinner spoke about the gravity of the moment of playing against his exes.

“It’s not just another game,” Skinner said.

“Technically, it’s another game on the schedule, it’s worth the same amount of points. But personally, I’ve spent a lot of time there and made a lot of friendships with people in that organization.


“First time I’ve been back as a visiting team player, I think it’s going to be, I don’t know. I don’t really know what to expect. I think it will be fun.”

Oh, it will be fun alright.

Skinner's partner in crime Jack Eichel will make his return to the Sabres' lineup after missing the past four games with an upper body ailment. Skinner scored goals in the last two games that Eichel was sidelined. The Sabres went 2-2 with their captain sidelined. The Skinner-Eichel dynamic duo have combined for 44 goals and 47 assists in this season.







Skinner leads the NHL with 23 even strength goals and 7 game winning goals.

Skinner is not going to let his emotions get the better of him once the puck drops in Raleigh. The Sabres need two points in regulation to keep pace with the pack of playoff teams.

“There will definitely be some emotions, I think. But it’s just sort of part of life. I think you have to find a way to sort of channel it, I guess, and use some of it to your advantage.”




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