Why would the Sabres buyout a good to great player and strap themselves with a cap hit for 6 years?

Skinner was/is not consistent enough to be considered good to great imo
- Boss34

He was a good to great player at time of signing.

He led the team in goals above replacement and standing points above replacement.

Considering his defensive play is non-existent, it's that much more impressive. or an indictment of the talent on the team, i dont know.

I think Lindy is a safe, uninspired, and completely reasonable move. I'm not bothered with Lindy, but with another major move where they didn't even look.
- Lunaion

Yeah, that's the disconcerting part. I understand having "your guy" but due diligence should've been a consideration and it seems it wasn't.

Why hasn't the $8mx8yrs extension for Benson not been announced yet?

What's going on in Sabreland?

And if we're being honest about it, there's no way anyone could say Skinner wasn't a good player, on Carolina and Buffalo, before he signed that deal.

And not one of us liked that contract.
- TheSabresTaco

I mean Okposo was a pretty good player on the Island too. Ehrhoff was very good in Vancouver.

Past performance doesn’t mean diddly squat.

The dryer exhaust was aimed right at his head for years, give him a break.
- washedup20

That's quite the code violation

So A 24 last year goal scorer and a guy that is capable of getting you 30+ in any given year is going to get bought out?

I assume they have a plan to replace those goals? but then again it is the Sabres so I wont hold my breathe

I mean Okposo was a pretty good player on the Island too. Ehrhoff was very good in Vancouver.

Past performance doesn’t mean diddly squat.
- Swedish_Jesus

Take contract term and dollars out of this. Which brings me back to my original post.

Jeff Skinner was a successful player that earned a contract of substance, here or elsewhere.

Wait I thought only winning the cup matters
- Hank Balling

Today is a different day so…..

We are witnessing the damage caused from sleeping in the basement of an in-laws home for an extended period of time.
- washedup20

LOL

So A 24 last year goal scorer and a guy that is capable of getting you 30+ in any given year is going to get bought out?

I assume they have a plan to replace those goals? but then again it is the Sabres so I wont hold my breathe
- hehateme

I don't think you can justify this without a replacement plan. Especially this year because they're given over 7M in extra space.

Christian Ehrhoff and Kyle Okposo were both good players in this league too. Did they earn the dollars they signed for at time of signing? No. And neither did Jeff.

But Darcy, Jason and Terry sure thought so.

Wait I’m so lost. When does the buyout window actually start.

The NHL is really (frank)ing awful at all of this.

Take contract term and dollars out of this. Which brings me back to my original post.

Jeff Skinner was a successful player that earned a contract of substance, here or elsewhere.
- TheSabresTaco

Should have been elsewhere, and it was evident at the time.

I don't think you can justify this without a replacement plan. Especially this year because they're given over 7M in extra space.
- TheSabresTaco

I get it, but Jeff Skinner averaged basically 30 goals a year for us. its not easy to get that kind of production.. he had a down year last year and still potted 24.

It will be interesting to see what happens for sure.

Christian Ehrhoff and Kyle Okposo were both good players in this league too. Did they earn the dollars they signed for at time of signing? No. And neither did Jeff.

But Darcy, Jason and Terry sure thought so.
- TheSabresTaco

That is why NHL Gms have learned to pay their kids big money long term vs throwing it at aging vets.

Paying future potential production is better than paying for production from the past.

NHL gms are still insanely old school. So paying the kids must have hurt them deep down inside.

Should have been elsewhere, and it was evident at the time.
- Swedish_Jesus

Skinner is and was a good player. He could score 20-30 goals blindfolded for 10+ years.

His contract was due to weird circumstances. Cap didn’t go up when he signed and then covid happened. So the cap stayed flat for what 3-4 years?

Should have been elsewhere, and it was evident at the time.
- Swedish_Jesus

I disagree but it's fair to have that opinion. This team was staring down oblivion and probably would have been put in an even worse light if they lost him to FA. Jack was starting to get irritated at this point in time. Losing him, imo, would have fractured their relationship even sooner. Hindsight it doesn't matter, but at the point it did.

He was a good to great player at time of signing.

He led the team in goals above replacement and standing points above replacement.

Considering his defensive play is non-existent, it's that much more impressive. or an indictment of the talent on the team, i dont know.
- TheSabresTaco

Skins was a 7 million $ guy that got paid too much

I bet Lindy wants nothing to do with him moving forward

I get it, but Jeff Skinner averaged basically 30 goals a year for us. its not easy to get that kind of production.. he had a down year last year and still potted 24.

It will be interesting to see what happens for sure.
- hehateme

Skins was a 7 million $ guy that got paid too much

I bet Lindy wants nothing to do with him moving forward
- Boss34

So be it. Just use the cap space wisely, because now you lost a 50-60 point player.

Skins was a 7 million $ guy that got paid too much

I bet Lindy wants nothing to do with him moving forward
- Boss34

maybe true, but I bet he would of got 9 from someone else if we didn't pay him that.

So A 24 last year goal scorer and a guy that is capable of getting you 30+ in any given year is going to get bought out?

I assume they have a plan to replace those goals? but then again it is the Sabres so I wont hold my breathe
- hehateme

Wait I’m so lost. When does the buyout window actually start.

The NHL is really (frank)ing awful at all of this.
- ImThatGuy

It starts "tomorrow", but according to the CBA, it starts around 10:45 tonight.

- Hank Balling

I disagree but it's fair to have that opinion. This team was staring down oblivion and probably would have been put in an even worse light if they lost him to FA. Jack was starting to get irritated at this point in time. Losing him, imo, would have fractured their relationship even sooner. Hindsight it doesn't matter, but at the point it did.
- TheSabresTaco

Agreed, skinners deal was partially about keeping jack happy .