Jeff Skinner: “As a player, you want to play where you’re wanted and Buffalo is a great opportunity for me… #Wanted
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) August 4, 2018
NHL players want to play where they are wanted.
Jeff Skinner wanted to play in Buffalo, NY.
The 26-year old scoring forward seemingly lost that loving feeling when his former employers, the Carolina Hurricanes, opted to not initiate contract extension talks with the three-time 30-goal scorer. Skinner is entering the final season of his six-year, $34 million contract.
He knew full well that Canes GM Don Waddell was shopping him at the NHL Draft. Waddell made no bones about it. He talked about his desire to improve his core by drafting power forward Andrei Svechnikov second overall at the NHL Draft. Buffalo won the NHL Draft Lottery and grabbed Rasmus Dahlin fiirst overall at the NHL Draft in Dallas in June. Waddell announced his intensions to take the roto-tiller to his under-performing roster that he had inherited from deposed former Canes GM Ron Francis, who was summarily fired in March by rookie, know-it-all, hands-on owner Tom Dundon. Waddell and Dundon placed bullseyes on Canes core players like Cam Ward, Noah Hanifin and Jeff Skinner. The Canes haven't made the playoffs in the past nine seasons.
In the end ,Ward, Hanifin and Skinner were sent packing from Raleigh.
The owner of a no move clause, Skinner held all the leverage. He reportedly vetoed a trade to Los Angeles in June. Skinner wanted to play for a team that wanted him. He had a small list of NHL teams that he would waive his no move clause for.
Skinner and his new agents at Newport Sports selected the Buffalo Sabres. A few months ago, Skinner left the Orr Group and hired the Newport, who represent some of the NHL's best and brightest stars like Erik Karlsson, PK Subban, Steven Stamkos and Drew Doughty.
An interesting subplot to Jeff Skinner trade to Buffalo:
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) August 3, 2018
In May, Skinner left Orr Hockey Group and hired Newport Sports Management, who also reps Samson Reinhart@BuffaloSabres
Over the past decade in the Pittsburgh and Buffalo front offices, Sabres GM Jason Botterill has maintained a strong relationship with Newport, who also represent Sabres restricted free agent forward Samson Reinhart as well as former Sabres Evander Kane, Ryan O'Reilly and Robin Lehner.
On Thursday night, Botterill traded prospect forward Cliff Pu and three draft choices to the Hurricanes in exchange for Skinner.
The eight year NHL vet will inject immediate primary scoring to the Sabres at even strength and on the power power play. The kid has twinkle toes and can tickle the twine with regularity like very few NHL snipers can do. At 5'11 and 200 lbs., Skinner is not the biggest dog in the fight. However, he will scratch, hack and claw to win loose pucks and will fight to the hard areas around the plate.
According to Skinner, the Sabres checked all of his requirement boxes. He respected the Buffalo roster and the talent pipeline in the organization. He admired the coaches on Phil Housley's staff. He also applauded the owner, Terry and Kim Pegula, and their commitment to building a Stanley Cup contending team in Buffalo.
On his introductory conference call on Friday afternoon, Skinner praised the Buffalo Sabres. He said he's geeked to meet Jack Eichel, Rasmus Dahlin, Samson Reinhart, Casey Mittelstadt, and the rest of his Buffalo Sabres teammates.
“First and foremost, the young group of players they have, the young core is exciting,… Skinner said of why he approved a trade to the Sabres. “There’s a lot of good players. I’m excited to join those guys and be a piece of the puzzle to them.
Skinner: “I'm excited to join those guys and be a piece of the puzzle." @BuffaloSabres pic.twitter.com/mlcHqfNo84
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) August 3, 2018
“After that, I think you try to do your homework based on sort of guys that have played there, maybe guys that you know. I’ve heard a lot of positive things about the city, a lot of positive things about the ownership group, management group and the fans.…
How does Principal Skinner feel about Jack Eichel?
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) August 3, 2018
"I'm excited to get to know him and get to meet him. He's obviously one of the top centermen in the game right now. Anytime you have that on the team it's exciting… pic.twitter.com/onggp8R3Av
Oh, by the way. Skinner is jazzed to be playing 70 miles away from his family and friends who live in nearby Toronto.
“It’s a positive, all things considered,… Skinner said.
“My family’s excited. But I think, for me, when you sort of rank priorities and weigh everything that goes into it. It’s nice to be close to family, it’s nice to be close to friends. I’ve gotten a lot of texts and people are excited.
“But for me, I think the focus is winning and having a good season and right now coming into camp to sort of start on the right foot.…
Skinner will love playing oin front of a packed barn of 18,000 passionate hockey lunatics on 41 nights next season in Buffalo. A far cry from the sparce crowds of the Carolina Hurricanes. The Sabres will play several games on NBCSN, Sportsnet, TSN and RDS this season, which will give Skinner more exposure in the U.S. and Canada than he has ever had in his eight year NHL career in Carolina.
Hockey is a sickness in Buffalo. We are all infected. Now Jeff Skinner is down with the sickness.
Skinner will count $5,725,000 against the Buffalo Sabres salary cap this season. Skinner knows that when he lights the lamp 30+ times this season he will be due a big, fat pay day.
When asked about his current contract staus, Skinner immediately switched the narrative about playing hockey. He said the money can wait.
“Obviously, the last 24 to 48 hours have been pretty busy, and just trying to sort of get through everything that’s going on,… he said.
“Honestly, I’m just excited to start the season,… he added. “That’s what my focus is and where my focus is going to be for the next little while.…
Skinner, the NHL Rookie of the Year in 2010, said he enjoyed the first eight seasons of his NHL career in Raleigh. It bothers him that he has yet to play in a Stanley Cup playoff game.
Jeff Skinner won rookie of the year 2010-11 with 31G,32A
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) August 3, 2018
In 8 seasons in Raleigh, Skinner scored 159 EV goals, 122 EV assists. As well as 45 PPG, 53 PPA
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) August 3, 2018
Skinner has landed 1,909 SOG, has 490 takeaways, and 143 blocked shots
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) August 3, 2018
“It’s frustrating for sure not sort of reaching your goal,… Skinner said.
“But I think when you look at it, sort of moving forward on that basis, it’s exciting for me. And that’s the way you look at it is that it is going to be a fresh start.…
Skinner is an upbeat, positive guy. He's always smiling. His positive energy will go a long way to healing the emotional wounds of perpetual losing seasons. For his teammates and the passionate fan base.
NHL hockey is a kid's game played by and managed by men who make lots and lots of money.
Jason Botterill is infusing youthful enthusiam, high skill and positivity into his impressive roster. Adding Rasmus Dahlin, Jeff Skinner, Conor Sheary and Tage Thompson will add immediate adrenaline and offense to a Sabres roster that finished dead-last in the NHL standings in 2017-18.
On many a night the past few seasons, there have been scowls, furrowed brows, pained looks and exasperated expressions on the faces of many Sabres players. Including Jack Eichel.
Losing sucks.
Smiles have been very scarce. Adding Skinner to a talented core of players can only inject more youthful enthusiasm and positive vibes into the room.
Botterill and Housley are positive people. They know that winning is the best medicine for chronic losing. They experienced the bliss of winning in Pittsburgh and Nashville, repsectively.
It's time for Eichel and Company to make their ascent to the top of the Eastern Conference standings. Sabres fans deserve a winnng team to cheer for this season and beyond.
NHL players want to play where they feel they are wanted.
Buffalo wanted and needed Skinner.
**
Jack Eichel ripping One T's on a hot August Friday morning