Great, so right when we’ll actually need a guy like him we can get out of the deal. That’s fantastic.

Are the Sabres winning the cup this year ? What does having Skinner do this year exactly ? Finish a few points higher then where we’d finish if we had any other UFA forward playing on line 3 ?

I can think of many creative ways we could have spent $9M in the coming years though.

It’s a team sport, Skinner scored 40 goals last year and we drafted Cozens.

Skinner could score 30 this year and we’ll still draft top 15 and draft another forward that will be more useful to us long term then Skinner at that cap number.
- Pegullaville

You can make these points about any player on any bad team. Trade eichel because whats the point when they suck?

New blog.

If you really think they won't really need him until 5 years down the line, the Sabres have much, much bigger problems.
- kingcong39

Hypothetically speaking, this team will probably play competitive hockey deep into the season but will fall just short of the playoffs. Perhaps they make it which would be great and not completely out of the question but they have work to do.

Next year this team should make the playoffs no ifs, and’s, or buts or else Botts will get the boot. Anything can happen when you make the dance I guess but I wouldn’t say we’ll be a cup favourite by any sense of the imagination.

So you’re right, maybe not 5 years, but by 3 years then I can fully justify making this type of move for a even strength goal scorer that draws penalties.

Will Skinner still be “elite” in all of these categories you guys speak of 3 years from now or will we be packaging up assets to free up cash to upgrade on him ?

What was your solution? To let him walk? He wasn't signing for $7M per.
- kingcong39

Traded for a productive top 6 winger with much shorter term and lower contract; this will flip some out but maybe not trading ROR for pieces of crap, draft picks and a prospect who makes 2 million less, is a better player and is well into his contract.

Yeah my thoughts as well

It would be better to draft a CB to play on the other side of Tre (you don't want too much money tied up in 1 position)

I would spend FA money on a legit pass rusher

I would love for a guy like Cooper to come to Buffalo because it shows the NFL this team is for real, but the question is does this offense really need a guy like him? How much more would he bring to the team?
- Stripes77

How about paying shaq lawson and Phillips

If you didn't know.

Hockey is literally three things

goals
assists
defense (which you're either good or bad at, no in between and absolutely no levels to)

Skinner isn't a play-maker and won't win a Selke -

So despite

Elite penalty drawing
Elite fore checking/takeaways
Top line level goals for%
Top line level scoring chances for %
Top line level possession metrics

.....Despite all of that, he's one dimensional
- sbroads24

Lol he was done last season you didn't know

https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-rumors-amari-cooper-likely-020303952.html

Maybe the Thanksgiving game will make him want to come here...
- buffalofan19

Cowboys are gonna sign Antonio Brown
Jerry Jones is crazy & desperate enough to do it