*Raises hand*

18 players in the NHL currently have a cap hit over $8.5 million next year. Most of those are at least a little overpaid for what they provide, but this contract would put Jeff Skinner into the top 25~ highest paid players in the entire league.

Is Jeff Skinner, a player already about 3 years into his prime, a top 25 or even top 30 player in the NHL?
- BINGO!

No, but most of those contracts are years old. A better way to look at it is % salary cap when signed.

I'd rather overpay Skinner than his replacement.

Can we just accept that Skinner is basically just Phil Kessel all over again, but with better feet and worse distribution skills?
- BINGO!

I think the fat man is faster then skinner

This board is hilarious. Below is where the Sabres have finished in goal-scoring in the entire NHL over the past 5 seasons:

2014/15 - 30th
2015/16 - 26th
2016/17 - 26th
2017/18 - 31st
2018/19 - 24th

So, half on this board want to let a 40 goal scorer walk away for nothing because we may end up over-paying him by $1 million per year (for arguments sake)? Geez, the Sabres need to score an additional 40-goals next season just to sniff the playoffs. Imagine starting the next season 80-goals in the hole. Is Tage Thompson going to replace Skinner's 40-goals if he walks? Insanity.

Pay Skinner the $9 million and move on to ridding the team of Scandella, Bogo, Okposo etc.
- SabreWest

Perfect. $9Mx5yrs. Sign him up.

I think the fat man is faster then skinner
- homiedclown

Agreed

No, but most of those contracts are years old. A better way to look at it is % salary cap when signed.

I'd rather overpay Skinner than his replacement.
- Lunaion

look at how bad the petry contract looked for the habs when they signed him

now it's a steal

same with scheifele

Ok, what does evander kane make today? Probably the best comparable based purely on production. Is Skinner $2M per year and $23M better over the course of their two contracts?
- TheHank

Sure let’s compare

Evander Kane as a Sabre

24 goals 44 points per season

Jeff Skinner as a Sabre

40 goals and 63 points as a Sabre

Comparing their career totals is pointless. This is what Skinner did as a Sabre

40 goals.

I think the fat man is faster then skinner
- homiedclown

Oh he is, but Jeff is stronger on his feet and quicker in tight.

Oh he is, but Jeff is stronger on his feet and quicker in tight.
- BINGO!

I like Phil

But he just seems so disinterested

I am probably over thinking this but I like when Skinner gets p!ssed, he's a gamer

I need to consult with another poster before I can chime in
- homiedclown

Sure let’s compare

Evander Kane as a Sabre

24 goals 44 points per season

Jeff Skinner as a Sabre

40 goals and 63 points as a Sabre

Comparing their career totals is pointless. This is what Skinner did as a Sabre

40 goals.
- OneKaneOneCup

If we sign him 9mx8yrs is the contract tradeable? Is there a team out there that would take his contract from us, day one? Im not sure there is or will be. It says a lot to me anyways.

Artemi Panarin is probably going to get 10.5 mil.

Is he better than Malkin? Is he as good as Kane ?

Welcome to poopty drafting for years. Where you have to overpay for talent because your dippoop GM traded away a multitude of draft picks

And what do you think 27 yo Malkin and Benn get today?
- OneKaneOneCup

Moot point, both at 27 are miles ahead of Jeff. You wouldn't trade Jeff for either straight up?

That's my point, the players he is being paid like are well above him. I understand new contracts are always going up, but even recent comparables don't justify 9M or close to it.

He should ask for right around or slightly more than Evander. He should take less than Mark Stone no matter what. We're going to pay Stone money.

We will regret this contract and not in year 7 or 8 either.

I like Phil

But he just seems so disinterested

I am probably over thinking this but I like when Skinner gets p!ssed, he's a gamer
- Stripes77

No you're right, when somebody cranks him he turns it up a notch and he gets really dangerous.

Of course he also becomes prone to taking super dumb penalties but he's fun to watch.

No, but most of those contracts are years old. A better way to look at it is % salary cap when signed.

I'd rather overpay Skinner than his replacement.
- Lunaion

Put Olo there, get 20 goals and spend the money on multiple players that will help round your roster.

Problem solved.

Put Olo there, get 20 goals and spend the money on multiple players that will help round your roster.

Problem solved.
- RhinoFan

Those multiple players you're going to get to replace 40 goals are going to be overpaid FA's on July 1st

I'd rather play Oloffson and Skinner

than

Olofoson, Connolly and Donski to get the same production

look at how bad the petry contract looked for the habs when they signed him

now it's a steal

same with scheifele
- homiedclown

For every one of those there is a couple Ryan Kesler, Bobby Ryan and Carey Price deals.

Those multiple players you're going to get to replace 40 goals are going to be overpaid FA's on July 1st

I'd rather play Oloffson and Skinner

than

Olofoson, Connolly and Donski to get the same production
- Stripes77

As far as I'm concerned I can look for a trade as well. They don't have to be overpaid. If Olo can knock in 20 with Jack, I need 20 goals out of 8M. If Botts can't do that, bring Darcy back for (frank)s sakes.

Look at the amount of times you just mentioned Jack in a post about Skinner, now someone rationalize why paying a winger $9M a year when Jack could elevate the play of nearly anyone is a good idea. Anything more then $8M/per is an overpayment for him and I’m not going to apologize for that.
- Pegullaville

I'm sorry you feel that way

As far as I'm concerned I can look for a trade as well. They don't have to be overpaid. If Olo can knock in 20 with Jack, I need 20 goals out of 8M. If Botts can't do that, bring Darcy back for (frank)s sakes.
- RhinoFan

So 3 players brings in 40 that just walked out

The Sabres were 27th in the leauge in goals scored

They need to add goals to Skinners 40 not just replace his 40

This entire paragraph is a gross assumption.

Just because you "make millions" doesn't mean you "have millions". Nor does it mean you have proper medical care or familial support.

He was in violation of his contract because he was addicted to prescription pain-killers, wasn't sleeping and was in a state of delirium. Both his employer and his union failed him.

It's not acceptable, what the team did to him and how the NHLPA didn't fight it.

It screams of dirty money and greased pockets.
- BeadyEyedDouche

This might hold water if they never helped Lehner. Why would they go out of their way to help a guy they likely knew they weren't going to re-sign, but not help the "Swedish Godfather"? A guy supposedly very well liked in the room, and was supposed to be relied on to mentor the younger players. The Sabres very well may have offered to help and he told them go take a flying (frank) at a rolling donut.

The Union goes out of it's way to help the players. They got Wilson's suspension cut, got Voynov's halved. This has all the feel of Berglund walking away, and the Sabres doing what is within their rights.

Also, Sweden has some pretty damn good healthcare.

So 3 players brings in 40 that just walked out

The Sabres were 27th in the leauge in goals scored

They need to add goals to Skinners 40 not just replace his 40
- Stripes77

3 players bring in +20. You can get half of Skinner's production from a rookie there, probably more.

Then I'd have 8 mil for almost the next decade to work with for 20 goals to break even? Yeah I'll make up the difference and add to it. Thanks for the great year Jeffrey.

3 players bring in +20. You can get half of Skinner's production from a rookie there, probably more.

Then I'd have 8 mil for almost the next decade to work with for 20 goals to break even? Yeah I'll make up the difference and add to it. Thanks for the great year Jeffrey.
- RhinoFan

Skinner and in your scenario Olofsson bring in 60 goals $10 million

Olofsson and player A and player B bring in 60 goals $10 million

So in your eyes you'd rather get 60 out of 3 players over 60 out of 2 players?

Sorry even with the salary that's a terrible idea, not to mention we have been down this road with wingers playing with Jack

Skinner has been the first one to be able to do it and do it consistently well

Moot point, both at 27 are miles ahead of Jeff. You wouldn't trade Jeff for either straight up?

That's my point, the players he is being paid like are well above him. I understand new contracts are always going up, but even recent comparables don't justify 9M or close to it.

He should ask for right around or slightly more than Evander. He should take less than Mark Stone no matter what. We're going to pay Stone money.

We will regret this contract and not in year 7 or 8 either.
- RhinoFan

How is it moot?

You are comparing Skinner’s deal to ones signed years ago.

Is Panarin better than Pat Kane?

How on earth did we pay Eichel 4 mil more than MacKinnon?

They sucked, they flat out sucked.

They over-performed like crazy and then the lack of anything resembling a competent middle-6 caught up with them, coupled with poopty coaching, gaps all over the defense and spotty goaltending. You can continue your hate parade against Eichel, but that roster sucked hard.

Sheary-Mitts-Pominville
Girgs-Erod-Larsson
Elie-Sobotka-Okposo

in what world is that roster good enough to make the playoffs
- jcragcrumple

They definitely quit once Valentine's Day rolled around. That last 2 months was even more burtal than them just being bad.