Right? What do analytics say about his goals against/corsi/etc? I don’t know but I’d like to. I do know he’s a tenacious forechecker, keeps the puck on his stick and can actually retrieve a dump-in. That’s just eyeball stuff though..I’d like to get a better feel for the quantifiable stuff for sure.
- jimmy mcnaulty

The analytics lie a lot here because they go to extremes to keep him away from tough defensive situations.

If we could package the deal with lower cap hit and performance based bonuses that would be in our best interest
- lulags

Problem is, that's not allowed.

The analytics lie a lot here because they go to extremes to keep him away from tough defensive situations.
- Lunaion

How many times did we have to watch Phil trot out Sheary with Eichel in OT.

Best to pass on this one.
- Khymlev13

Lol deal.

The analytics lie a lot here because they go to extremes to keep him away from tough defensive situations.
- Lunaion

I gotcha. Are they super bad for Skinner?

How many times did we have to watch Phil trot out Sheary with Eichel in OT.
- Pegullaville

Even to start OT it made no sense, especially during that 10 game win streak Skinner scored 2 GWG's in OT

It makes zero sense

Lol deal.
- jimmy mcnaulty

Don't worry I hate that argument, it's plain wrong

How many times did we have to watch Phil trot out Sheary with Eichel in OT.
- Pegullaville

Oh god I’m getting PTSD thinking of some of those OT pairings

Carolina made it to the ECF this year did they not ?

I’m trying really hard to find a one dimensional 40 goal scorer on St.Louis or Boston rosters care to help me out ?


- Pegullaville

Lol so then just let him walk for nothing? Just because the two teams in this years final don’t have one doesn’t mean they aren’t very valuable, how good is pat Kane at defence? Not all players on your team have to be elite two way players, going by stats there’s less then 20 of those kind of players in the entire league.
If a guy is great defensively but doesn’t score a ton you’d say hey you need shutdown guys like that to win, you also need goals to win, if Skinner scores at the rate he did this year who cares what he makes, Buffalo needs skilled players.

I hate how people throw that out

It is like Carolina moved Skinner and all of a sudden they turned into one of the best teams in the East.

They made several changes and the most important thing they got was good goaltending
- Stripes77

Right!! In fact, I think he would’ve helped them a ton, especially in the conference finals when they scored 5 goals in 4 games

Enough to justify paying the third most impactful forward on our team $9M a year ?
- Pegullaville

Skinner was our best forward not named Eichel this year.

Lol so then just let him walk for nothing? Just because the two teams in this years final don’t have one doesn’t mean they aren’t very valuable, how good is pat Kane at defence? Not all players on your team have to be elite two way players, going by stats there’s less then 20 of those kind of players in the entire league.
If a guy is great defensively but doesn’t score a ton you’d say hey you need shutdown guys like that to win, you also need goals to win, if Skinner scores at the rate he did this year who cares what he makes, Buffalo needs skilled players.
- Sabres1523

You are comparing Jeff Skinner to Patrick Kane ? When Jeff Skinner goes on a 20 game point streak and records an 110 point season let me know. Kane is an elite hockey player. Skinner is an elite goal scorer, good hockey player but not great.

Don't worry I hate that argument, it's plain wrong
- Stripes77

It is wrong. That argument needs to die. I don’t know ya but you’re my boy Stripes!

Right!! In fact, I think he would’ve helped them a ton, especially in the conference finals when they scored 5 goals in 4 games
- jimmy mcnaulty

Skinner for whatever reason wasn't used to his potential in Carolina

Maybe he didn't fit in their system as they claim

Which may be the case, but guess what he fits in with Eichel

Pay him and move on to improving the rest of the roster which needs lots of help

Skinner was our best forward not named Eichel this year.
- Sabres1523

Sam wants to have a word.

Skinner for whatever reason wasn't used to his potential in Carolina

Maybe he didn't fit in their system as they claim

Which may be the case, but guess what he fits in with Eichel

Pay him and move on to improving the rest of the roster which needs lots of help
- Stripes77

A broken down Pominville was on pace for 25 goals with Eichel. Olofsson couldn’t pot 20-25 with a full season of Eichel ? Is an additional 15 goals worth $9M to you ?

It is wrong. That argument needs to die. I don’t know ya but you’re my boy Stripes!
- jimmy mcnaulty

That argument is lazy

It's easy to say oh Carolina traded Skinner and they made it to ECFs...

Sure they did trade Skinner, but there were so many other moves made ugh

I hate lazy takes!!!!

A broken down Pominville was on pace for 25 goals with Eichel. Olofsson couldn’t pot 20-25 with a full season of Eichel ? Is an additional 15 goals worth $9M to you ?
- Pegullaville

27th in the league in scoring....

The Sabres were 27th in the league in scoring, so let a 40 goal scorer walk and replace him with a rookie...

This conversation about replacing his 40 goals is the wrong conversation to be having...the conversation should be how can we add goal scorers to this roster, not about letting a 40 goal scorer walk

40 goal scorers going into UFA get paid, it's best for you to accept it

You are comparing Jeff Skinner to Patrick Kane ? When Jeff Skinner goes on a 20 game point streak and records an 110 point season let me know. Kane is an elite hockey player. Skinner is an elite goal scorer, good hockey player but not great.
- Pegullaville

Was talking about the defensive side of things, just because someone isn’t great at defence doesn’t mean what they do very well should be discounted.

That argument is lazy

It's easy to say oh Carolina traded Skinner and they made it to ECFs...

Sure they did trade Skinner, but there were so many other moves made ugh

I hate lazy takes!!!!
- Stripes77

Carolina had an outstanding d-corps, one they wouldn’t be able to afford if they were paying a winger $9M.

They had a young group that played hard for their coach and played a strong team structured game and got lucky with two journey men goaltenders.

Sam wants to have a word.
- Pegullaville

When he scores 40 goals he can have all words he wants, take away Skinner from this team and we don’t even have the 10 game streak to be happy about.

Carolina made it to the ECF this year did they not ?

I’m trying really hard to find a one dimensional 40 goal scorer on St.Louis or Boston rosters care to help me out ?


- Pegullaville

Neither st. Louis nor Boston tanked for a 40 goal scorer

Carolina had an outstanding d-corps, one they wouldn’t be able to afford if they were paying a winger $9M.

They had a young group that played hard for their coach and played a strong team structured game and got lucky with two journey men goaltenders.
- Pegullaville

That's an understatment

I think they have the best blue line in the NHL

But they couldn't score in the ECFs

They need a goal scorer on their team to really make waves

27th in the league in scoring....

The Sabres were 27th in the league in scoring, so let a 40 goal scorer walk and replace him with a rookie...

This conversation about replacing his 40 goals is the wrong conversation to be having...the conversation should be how can we add goal scorers to this roster, not about letting a 40 goal scorer walk

40 goal scorers going into UFA get paid, it's best for you to accept it
- Stripes77

Folks..Stripes is preaching truth here. Let’s not delude ourselves about any of this. Snipers in the pipeline, projected goal totals, market value, “greed” and an all-stars worth to a team that hasn’t won anything..ever!! If he signs tomorrow, that’s a GOOD thing..no complaints. It speaks highly of him and the alternatives are bleak and not nearly as exciting. Come on..let’s score some cool goals and get better and do it with Skins in the fold.

When he scores 40 goals he can have all words he wants, take away Skinner from this team and we don’t even have the 10 game streak to be happy about.
- Sabres1523

Sam played 50% of the season away from Eichel and finished with more points then Skinner. He proved he was capable of driving his own line. He grades well defensively. Might not score 40 goals but he’s a better hockey player.