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New York Islanders UFA Jeff Skinner Re-Signed by Buffalo Sabres

BUFFALO, NY - APRIL 2: Jeff Skinner #53 of the Buffalo Sabres looks on during the game against the Nashville Predators at KeyBank Center on April 2, 2019 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Kevin Hoffman/Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NY - APRIL 2: Jeff Skinner #53 of the Buffalo Sabres looks on during the game against the Nashville Predators at KeyBank Center on April 2, 2019 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Kevin Hoffman/Getty Images) /
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He was the UFA target for a lot of New York Islanders fans. But unfortunately, the Buffalo Sabres were able to re-sign Jeff Skinner to a new deal.

Most of us have gone and tinkered around with Cap Friendly’s Armchair-GM feature to build the 2019-20 New York Islanders as if we were Lou Lamoriello. And a number of us have included Jeff Skinner within those builds.

After all, he’s a recent 40 goal scorer and with an expiring contract. The only cost to the Islanders could have been the salary the Islanders would have to pay him. And that salary was less than the Panarin or Marner possibilities.

Unfortunately, the Buffalo Sabres got to Skinner first and were able to lock him up with a long-term deal that carries a pretty large AAV as well. So get back out there and find another fit on your team.

Big Time Deal

According to the Sabres press release, the deal between Buffalo and Jeff Skinner is for a full eight years and will carry an average annual value of $9 million. Cap Friendly also indicates that the move carries a full no-move clause for the length of the deal.

That’s a massive deal for Skinner. The 27-year-old will be on the Sabres books until he turns 35 years old for a number very few wingers have hit so far. He’s the seventh winger in the league to carry a cap hit of $9 million or more.

For a player with documented concussion issues and who exceeded the 60 point mark on only three occasions in his nine-year NHL career a $9 million is one heck of a good deal for Skinner. Sure, there are some factors into why Buffalo gave Skinner what he got. But that’s a lot of term, a lot of money, and a lot of trade protection.

Anders Lee?

Thinking about the New York Islanders; you have to wonder about the impact that a recent 40  goal scorer’s contract can have on that of the New York Islanders recent 40 goal scorer who is also negotiating a contract?

Anders Lee isn’t a $9 million NHL player. But if both sides were comfortable at $7 million before Jeff Skinner signed this deal, you have to think this could add some extra compensation for the Islanders captain over the offseason.

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