Look at the amount of times you just mentioned Jack in a post about Skinner, now someone rationalize why paying a winger $9M a year when Jack could elevate the play of nearly anyone is a good idea. Anything more then $8M/per is an overpayment for him and I’m not going to apologize for that.
- Pegullaville

How many goals did Evander Kane score playing with Jack? He produced more away from Jack.

Jack isn't Crosby, sure he makes people around him better but not like Crosby.

You need to be a really really good player to be able to play with Jack and produce like Skinner did

Maybe, but it's also possibly they wouldn't have fit well with Eichel. A lot of players don't. I also think Skinner is a significantly better player than either and is 3 years younger.
- Lunaion

Like Evander Kane......

Remember when we got him and we expected 35-40 goals with Eichel?

Now someone actually exceeds expectations and people are going to let him walk over a million?

Insanity

Look at the amount of times you just mentioned Jack in a post about Skinner, now someone rationalize why paying a winger $9M a year when Jack could elevate the play of nearly anyone is a good idea. Anything more then $8M/per is an overpayment for him and I’m not going to apologize for that.
- Pegullaville

He's a pending UFA so the Sabres are going to have to pay him the UFA price. It is what it is.

Skinner is going to be making $2M a year more then Pacioretty and JVR who we were rumoured to sign/trade for this past offseason. If JVR and Pacioretty played a full 82 with Eichel they would have scored 40 as well. That’s the problem.
- Pegullaville

my guess is if okposo and scandella were not on the roster, nobody would have a problem paying skinner 9 mil per

Like Evander Kane......

Remember when we got him and we expected 35-40 goals with Eichel?

Now someone actually exceeds expectations and people are going to let him walk over a million?

Insanity
- OneKaneOneCup

if the sabres win the cup in 6 games, people will b!tch they did not win it in 5

Like Evander Kane......

Remember when we got him and we expected 35-40 goals with Eichel?

Now someone actually exceeds expectations and people are going to let him walk over a million?

Insanity
- OneKaneOneCup

I don't think it's insanity, but Jack is a very unusual player to play with. People assumed you could plug ERod in with him. It was so bad that it didn't even last a full game. Long list of guys who didn't fit. Skinner does. Hard to walk away from that over a 1m.

Paying Jeff Skinner 9 Million dollars for any amount of time is insane.

I have been on board with JB's decisions for the most part, if he does this, it simply means he has no spine.

Tampa Bay has Kucherov for 9.5

We have Jeff Skinner

#Suffering

if the sabres win the cup in 6 games, people will b!tch they did not win it in 5
- homiedclown

No worries about that homie, we can't even make the playoffs.

I don't think it's insanity, but Jack is a very unusual player to play with. People assumed you could plug ERod in with him. It was so bad that it didn't even last a full game. Long list of guys who didn't fit. Skinner does. Hard to walk away from that over a 1m.
- Lunaion

Skinner scored without him as well if they need to play Olofsson there.

Skinner Mitts and Reinhart should be this teams second line

Olofsson/Eichel/Eberle or Donskoi should be the first

An actual top 6

Anyone saying that the Sabres shouldn't sign Skinner because he wants 750K more a year than what they offered should be dragged out on the street and shot. How many 40 goal scorers have the Sabres had? Vanek? Name the last one before that? How many 40 goal scorers are just going to walk into Buffalo and sign a long term deal at a cost lower than what Skinner wants? Especially a 40 goal scorer who scored 40 goals already IN BUFFALO WITH EICHEL/SAM!!! In a sh1t sandwich system no less. 9M for him will be a cake contract in 2-3 years when the cap goes up 15-20M.

The Sabres walking away from Skinner's camp over 500k-1M per year would be up there as the WORST move in franchise history with letting Drury/Briere walk and not giving up Vanek for 4 1sts. Literally.. the worst moves in their history. NO QUESTION.
- JVince11

I approve of this post! Bang on!

Paying Jeff Skinner 9 Million dollars for any amount of time is insane.

I have been on board with JB's decisions for the most part, if he does this, it simply means he has no spine.

Tampa Bay has Kucherov for 9.5

We have Jeff Skinner

#Suffering
- RhinoFan

Why are you comparing RFA’s to UFA’s?

Boston has David Backes at 6 mil
We have Reinhart at 3.7

Skinner scored without him as well if they need to play Olofsson there.

Skinner Mitts and Reinhart should be this teams second line

Olofsson/Eichel/Eberle or Donskoi should be the first

An actual top 6
- OneKaneOneCup

It's interesting to think that lines might stick together a little better this year. I'd want Skinner with Jack, Sam with Mitts.

Feels like 20 teams have Donskoi on their wish list. Would be nice.

In 2017-2018 his most common linemates were Derek Ryan and Justin Williams
- Stripes77

Williams had 51 points that year. That's easily top 6 production in the NHL.

Derek Ryan, well, yes. I'm well aware of how inept Derek Ryan is.

Williams had 51 points that year. That's easily top 6 production in the NHL.

Derek Ryan, well, yes. I'm well aware of how inept Derek Ryan is.
- BINGO!

And Skinner and Williams averages about 16 mins per game more like borderline 2nd/3rd line minutes

Why are you comparing RFA’s to UFA’s?

Boston has David Backes at 6 mil
We have Reinhart at 3.7
- OneKaneOneCup

Because we have the ability to set up comparables. The players around the league that make that kind of money are better at hockey than our boy Jeff.

Malkin, Benn and Kucherov aren't players he belongs with.

Because we have the ability to set up comparables. The players around the league that make that kind of money are better at hockey than our boy Jeff.

Malkin, Benn and Kucherov aren't players he belongs with.
- RhinoFan

And what do you think 27 yo Malkin and Benn get today?

my guess is if okposo and scandella were not on the roster, nobody would have a problem paying skinner 9 mil per
- homiedclown

*Raises hand*

18 players in the NHL currently have a cap hit over $8.5 million next year. Most of those are at least a little overpaid for what they provide, but this contract would put Jeff Skinner into the top 25~ highest paid players in the entire league.

Is Jeff Skinner, a player already about 3 years into his prime, a top 25 or even top 30 player in the NHL?

if the sabres win the cup in 6 games, people will b!tch they did not win it in 5
- homiedclown

If Jack would back check, they should win in 4

if the sabres win the cup in 6 games, people will b!tch they did not win it in 5
- homiedclown

This board is hilarious. Below is where the Sabres have finished in goal-scoring in the entire NHL over the past 5 seasons:

2014/15 - 30th
2015/16 - 26th
2016/17 - 26th
2017/18 - 31st
2018/19 - 24th

So, half on this board want to let a 40 goal scorer walk away for nothing because we may end up over-paying him by $1 million per year (for arguments sake)? Geez, the Sabres need to score an additional 40-goals next season just to sniff the playoffs. Imagine starting the next season 80-goals in the hole. Is Tage Thompson going to replace Skinner's 40-goals if he walks? Insanity.

Pay Skinner the $9 million and move on to ridding the team of Scandella, Bogo, Okposo etc.

If Jack would back check, they should win in 4
- IonSabres

I need to consult with another poster before I can chime in

*Raises hand*

18 players in the NHL currently have a cap hit over $8.5 million next year. Most of those are at least a little overpaid for what they provide, but this contract would put Jeff Skinner into the top 25~ highest paid players in the entire league.

Is Jeff Skinner, a player already about 3 years into his prime, a top 25 or even top 30 player in the NHL?
- BINGO!

we suck and have to overpay though so really paying skinner 9 mil is like a good team paying him 7.5 mil

And what do you think 27 yo Malkin and Benn get today?
- OneKaneOneCup

Ok, what does evander kane make today? Probably the best comparable based purely on production. Is Skinner $2M per year and $23M better over the course of their two contracts?

And Skinner and Williams averages about 16 mins per game more like borderline 2nd/3rd line minutes
- Stripes77

Can we just accept that Skinner is basically just Phil Kessel all over again, but with better feet and worse distribution skills?

Can we just accept that Skinner is basically just Phil Kessel all over again, but with better feet and worse distribution skills?
- BINGO!

Yes

This board is hilarious. Below is where the Sabres have finished in goal-scoring in the entire NHL over the past 5 seasons:

2014/15 - 30th
2015/16 - 26th
2016/17 - 26th
2017/18 - 31st
2018/19 - 24th

So, half on this board want to let a 40 goal scorer walk away for nothing because we may end up over-paying him by $1 million per year (for arguments sake)? Geez, the Sabres need to score an additional 40-goals next season just to sniff the playoffs. Imagine starting the next season 80-goals in the hole. Is Tage Thompson going to replace Skinner's 40-goals if he walks? Insanity.

Pay Skinner the $9 million and move on to ridding the team of Scandella, Bogo, Okposo etc.
- SabreWest

I said all along it would take 9 mil from what I heard, back in december

funny I was right about Kane getting 7 mil per as well

the only issue I have had with this Skinner thing, is they need to get closure before the courting period after the draft

make him lock it up by the draft so you know what cards you have in place once they are prepared to make that pick at #7