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#Sabres announce the team has signed forward Jeff Skinner to an eight-year contract with $9M AAV

— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) June 8, 2019

The Sabres have confirmed the Skinner signing at 8 years and $72 million.

I love this deal for the Sabres in the short and long terms.

You may think that $9M AAV is a lot to pay Skinner. I don’t. It’s only 10.8% of #Sabres salary cap

— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) June 8, 2019

Botterill said this week he has a comfort level with @JeffSkinner integrating well with #Sabres management, trainers, coaches, teammates, fans. Botterill is pleased with Skinner’s commitment to his personal fitness and team leadership. Skinner has the character #Sabres value https://t.co/Us36DvACmo

— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) June 8, 2019

The most important aspect of @JeffSkinner re-signing with #Sabres is he can now afford to pick up four new pairs of John Varvatos jeans. Poor kid has been bumping around town in old, holy jeans. Go have a time, Skinny pic.twitter.com/0WF56C0xoF

— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) June 8, 2019

***

BUF and Jeff Skinner, who is a pending UFA, are closing in on an eight-year extension. It’s expected to have an AAV of $9M or thereabouts.

— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 8, 2019

Buffalo Sabres GM Jason Botterill and Newport Sports are at the end of a long contract negotiation that will make Jeff Skinner a very, very wealthy man.

Skinner, a pending unrestricted free agent, was never in jeopardy of leaving the Sabres to seek greener pastures. The Sabres are the only NHL team that can offer Skinner an eighth year in his contract. If you think paying upwards of $9M AAV for one of the most prolific even strength goal scorers in the NHL, you’ve got another thing coming.

Skinner and his agent, Don Meehan, know a good thing when they see it. The Sabres need offense and Skinner injected heavy offense last season.

Newport Sports represented former Sabres center Ryan O’Reilly, who was traded to St. Louis last summer. O’Reilly has played himself into Conn Smythe Trophy consideration based in his exemplary play on both sides of the puck in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Evander Kane was also repped by Newport.

I’ve been telling you for months that Botterill can ill afford to have the PR nightmare of Evander Kane, Ryan O’Reilly and Jeff Skinner leave the Sabres in an 18 month period of time.

Per Bob McKenzie, Skinner and the Sabres are about to clink champagne glasses on an eight-year extension worth approximately $9M average annual value.

I’ve been saying for months that Skinner and the Sabres will shake hands at 8 years and $8.5M AAV.

Happy 50th Birthday to Sabre’s owner Kim Pegula.


In 2018-19, Skinner scored 40 goals (32 goals at even strength) and piled up 63 points. Skinner led all Sabres with a career-high 40 goals during his first season with the Sabres in 2018-19. His 40-goal campaign was good for the third-highest total ever recorded by a first-year Sabres player.

Skinner, 27, found instant karma with Sabres captain Jack Eichel.

One of my favorite @JeffSkinner stats? Despite #Sabres struggles during second half of last season, Skinner concluded the disappointing season at even rating. Scoring 32 even strength goals will do wonders for Skinner, who has scored 191 EVG in his NHL career #Money #PaySkinner pic.twitter.com/Hnv3AYPKDC

— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) June 1, 2019

Earlier this week, Sabres head coach Ralph Kruger said he he had a long, productive phone conversation with skinner recently. Krueger said he spoke with Skinner as if he were still a member of the Sabres. Krueger also said he was confident that Jason Botterill and Skinner’s reps would reach a mutually beneficial contract solution.

Krueger said he spoke by phone with @JeffSkinner It was a long phone call. Krueger approached Skinner as if he were a Buffalo Sabre. They talked about usage and strategy

— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) June 5, 2019

Jeff Skinner is ready for his close-up. Botterill, take the picture already #Sabres pic.twitter.com/CbKUiZRLB8

— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) June 1, 2019

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