Islanders could make another savvy move with Skinner

The New York Islanders have been on a roll this season. GM Mathieu Darche has made a series of savvy moves, landing depth players like Ondrej Palat and Carson Soucy for practically nothing.

But there’s another deal that could work out just as well, if not better, for the Isles. That would be soon-to-be UFA Jeff Skinner.

The San Jose Sharks cut bait with Skinner on Monday, placing him on waivers. The move corresponds to an intended contract termination, which would make the 33-year-old an unrestricted free agent if and when he clears.

That situation could open the door for another savvy move by the Islanders. While Skinner is hardly the goal scorer he once was, he could be a low-risk proposition. Skinner would get a chance to go to a playoff team, with eyes on a middle-six role.

Meanwhile, the Islander could get a motivated player with a chip on his shoulder. Skinner would be eager to show that he still has what it takes to be successful at the NHL level.

Signing Skinner would not require more than a league-minimum contract prorated for the remainder of the season. As such, the cap hit would be negligible in the grander scheme of things.

How Skinner would fit in Islanders' lineup

Skinner would be earmarked for a middle-six role. Since he’s not a defensively-minded player, putting him on the fourth line really wouldn’t make much sense. So, the Islanders would need to find a more offensive role for Skinner.

Considering that Jonathan Drouin hasn’t quite lived up to expectations, Patrick Roy could replace Drouin with Skinner. Perhaps moving him onto a line with Calum Ritchie and Emil Heineman could give the Islanders a boost on that front.

Also, Skinner could fit in on a line with JG Pageau and Anders Lee. An all-veteran line could be an interesting one. Lee and Skinner are similar puck hounds with a good eye for the net. Plus, Pageau could be the defensively responsible adult in the line.

If Skinner plays really well, why not give him a shot with Bo Horvat? Horvat is the sort of player who makes everyone around him better. So, wouldn’t Skinner potentially benefit from playing in a more sheltered role with Horvat?

Ultimately, this entire discussion is speculation. For all we know, Skinner already has a team in mind he’d like to sign with. But it would be an interesting situation to see the Islanders find a hidden gem without it costing the club any additional assets.