Anyone remember Skinner’s ankle buckling against Wash on Feb 23? Remember wondering if he ever really recovered? Tell me who the real Skinner is:

60 games: 36 goals

- Khymlev13[ankle scare]
22 games: 4 goals

A mix of both

I love Buffalo, and I am completely on the level with what it is. I’m also not sweating 500k or whatever certain fans are crying about paying Skins. Detroit has 4 major sports teams, all with modern facilities and stable ownership. And they have rings. Stop engaging me, I don’t like you.
- jimmy mcnaulty

By that logic, the Raiders should be winning it all soon

Skinner drew 40 penalties this year. 40.

Your team averages 18% on the PP

How many extra goals is that?
- OneKaneOneCup

Enough to justify paying the third most impactful forward on our team $9M a year ?

Carolina made it to the ECF this year did they not ?

I’m trying really hard to find a one dimensional 40 goal scorer on St.Louis or Boston rosters care to help me out ?


- Pegullaville

Carolina made it that far because their goaltending was overhauled and they went from a sub .900 team save percentage to a .913 team save percentage

I am sure the Hamilton Ferland and Fox additions had no effect either.

Enough to justify paying the third most impactful forward on our team $9M a year ?
- Pegullaville

2nd most. Actually in terms of GAR he was 1st this season

A mix of both
- OneKaneOneCup

And I agree with that to an extent, but I don’t think his production with Eichel was a fluke. I think they could be an elite 1-2 punch for years.

And I agree with that to an extent, but I don’t think his production with Eichel was a fluke. I think they could be an elite 1-2 punch for years.
- Khymlev13

I don’t think it’s a fluke either. But he was also shooting like 20% at a point in the year and that won’t sustain

By that logic, the Raiders should be winning it all soon
- jcragcrumple

What? This has nothing “winning it all.” Again, just, skip it man. I’m just being very honest about where I live and the team I root for. No kool-aid, no axe to grind, just real. And FYI dude, Detroit has the 21st largest metro area in the country..Buffalo is 83rd. We have more in common with Lubbock and Madison than Detroit..well, both our cities are notoriously poor with 30%+ poverty-rates, so there’s that.

Now list their point totals and tell me which one of those players is not like the other. Atkinson and skinner are the same player yet Skinner is going to be making almost double.
- Pegullaville

He is not a 9m guy. He is not an 8m guy. I can learn to accept 8m but not 9m for a career non playoff guy

Is it really true that Skinner is "terrible defensively"? Or do folks just say that because he doesn't check people though the boards?

He is not a 9m guy. He is not an 8m guy. I can learn to accept 8m but not 9m for a career non playoff guy
- lulags

McDavid has made the playoffs once in four years. It’s a team game. Has nothing to do with his value.

Is it really true that Skinner is "terrible defensively"? Or do folks just say that because he doesn't check people though the boards?
- PrinceChill

I would defiantly label him with inconsistent on defense or at least on effort on defense. Most Sabres are very guilty of this

Is it really true that Skinner is "terrible defensively"? Or do folks just say that because he doesn't check people though the boards?
- PrinceChill

It’s easy to tag a player who isn’t a two way stalwart as terrible defensively. There has to be a middle ground in how we characterize it. All I know is that he’s a pest to play against. Opponents hate him. He draws penalties. When he isn’t scoring he’s still noticeable. He doesn’t disappear.

McDavid has made the playoffs once in four years. It’s a team game. Has nothing to do with his value.
- Khymlev13

Carolina Zero playoff appearances with Skinner, conference final next year with out him and almost an identical team. It’s about how players effect the team

McDavid has made the playoffs once in four years. It’s a team game. Has nothing to do with his value.
- Khymlev13

Carolina Zero playoff appearances with Skinner, conference final next year with out him and almost an identical team. It’s about how players effect the team

Is it really true that Skinner is "terrible defensively"? Or do folks just say that because he doesn't check people though the boards?
- PrinceChill

Right? What do analytics say about his goals against/corsi/etc? I don’t know but I’d like to. I do know he’s a tenacious forechecker, keeps the puck on his stick and can actually retrieve a dump-in. That’s just eyeball stuff though..I’d like to get a better feel for the quantifiable stuff for sure.

Carolina Zero playoff appearances with Skinner, conference final next year with out him and almost an identical team. It’s about how players effect the team
- lulags

Almost an identical team? Is this real-life?

It’s easy to tag a player who isn’t a two way stalwart as terrible defensively. There has to be a middle ground in how we characterize it. All I know is that he’s a pest to play against. Opponents hate him. He draws penalties. When he isn’t scoring he’s still noticeable. He doesn’t disappear.
- Khymlev13

I forgot he played for Buffalo after the all-star break. 4 goals in his last 22 games, sure as hell didn’t get any assists cause even on a good day those are tough to come by for him. So what did he do exactly to be noticeable ?

Almost an identical team? Is this real-life?
- jimmy mcnaulty

Best to pass on this one.

Is it really true that Skinner is "terrible defensively"? Or do folks just say that because he doesn't check people though the boards?
- PrinceChill

He really is terrible. He forechecks harder than anyone, but hates to backcheck. He's the first man out of the zone and cheats consistently. He blows assignments. He's just all about offense, all the time.

Carolina Zero playoff appearances with Skinner, conference final next year with out him and almost an identical team. It’s about how players effect the team
- lulags

Thats so wrong though

They changed both goaltenders and improved greatly in that area

They also moved out Hanafin and Lindholm and brought in Ferland Hamilton and Fox in that trade

Then they moved out Rask for Niederreiter

On top of moving Skinner for literally nothing

It is such a fallacy it was the same roster, it's a lazy take

If we could package the deal with lower cap hit and performance based bonuses that would be in our best interest

I forgot he played for Buffalo after the all-star break. 4 goals in his last 22 games, sure as hell didn’t get any assists cause even on a good day those are tough to come by for him. So what did he do exactly to be noticeable ?
- Pegullaville

I agree. He wasn’t effective for about three weeks after what looked like a serious injury. Plus the ENTIRE team was a disaster. Goalies were a disaster and overall D coverage was a joke.

He really is terrible. He forechecks harder than anyone, but hates to backcheck. He's the first man out of the zone and cheats consistently. He blows assignments. He's just all about offense, all the time.
- Lunaion

He is all about shooting the puck. If he isn’t shooting the puck he isn’t doing anything worth while to make any where close to $9M.

Best to pass on this one.
- Khymlev13

I hate how people throw that out

It is like Carolina moved Skinner and all of a sudden they turned into one of the best teams in the East.

They made several changes and the most important thing they got was good goaltending