JB doesn’t care about metaphorical pitch forks. Botts signed him to that deal because that’s what he really, really wanted. There was no gun to his head. He was under no pressure.
- PrinceChill

He wasn't gonna let him walk, and you have no idea if pressure was being put on Botts to sign him. As bad as Skinner has played this year, and I really have ripped on him most of the year, he is still a piece to build around.

What can he get for Skinner at his price tag?
- PrinceChill

Right now he is untradeable. They barely paid more than the Blues paid for Scandella who was a rental when he only made 5+million and 1 year left on his contract. If 89 had heard he doesn't hustle in practice, then others in the league know too and this is the 2nd coach who would throw him by the curb that would hurt his value too.

This isn't going to be popular with his ardent supporters but we all aren't card-carrying Skinner fans, myself, his coaches and a few others aren't.

He wasn't gonna let him walk, and you have no idea if pressure was being put on Botts to sign him. As bad as Skinner has played this year, and I really have ripped on him most of the year, he is still a piece to build around.
- Buff36

He’s not going anywhere, so we will see how motivated he is to play next year.

Right now he is untradeable. They barely paid more than the Blues paid for Scandella who was a rental when he only made 5+million and 1 year left on his contract. If 89 had heard he doesn't hustle in practice, then others in the league know too and this is the 2nd coach who would throw him by the curb that would hurt his value too.

This isn't going to be popular with his ardent supporters but we all aren't card-carrying Skinner fans, myself, his coaches and a few others aren't.
- GilPerreault11

Sabres are stuck with him.

Sabres are stuck with him.
- PrinceChill

Looks like it

Looks like it
- GilPerreault11

Does this make you nervous for JB dipping his toes into free agency in the off season? The perceived treasure chest of cap space could dry up pretty quickly with just a few bloated signings.

He’s not going anywhere, so we will see how motivated he is to play next year.
- PrinceChill

Don't get me wrong, I hated the contract, playing with Eichel is gonna get a few of these guys paid. If they can find that player that can mesh with Skinner, it will only make this team stronger. But Skinner has to put on his big boy pants and be a part of the solution and not be a distraction.

My 3 would be
Strome
Granlund
Domi
They can all dish the puck and create.

Don't get me wrong, I hated the contract, playing with Eichel is gonna get a few of these guys paid. If they can find that player that can mesh with Skinner, it will only make this team stronger. But Skinner has to put on his big boy pants and be a part of the solution and not be a distraction.
- Buff36

We better freaking hope Cozens is that guy. He’s probably the biggest help coming to the team next year.

Although, a guaranteed 9M is not going to be as big of a motivator as playing for his next contract was. His incentives for producing are very few.

Sabres are stuck with him.
- PrinceChill

Just think, if we had that 9 mil we could sign 2 1/2 Sheary or Vesey’s to come in and score 8-10 goals instead of keeping the guy who’s averaged 30 per 82 games and is only 27

We better freaking hope Cozens is that guy. He’s probably the biggest help coming to the team next year.
- PrinceChill

We are gonna need more than Cozens to work out, I hope he's a star, but we are gonna need 3 or 4 cheap contracts on this team that can fill spots and help.

Just think, if we had that 9 mil we could sign 2 1/2 Sheary or Vesey’s to come in and score 8-10 goals instead of keeping the guy who’s averaged 30 per 82 games and is only 27
- sbroads24

Or, 1 and 3/4 BOGOs.
Or an Okposo and a half.
Or 1.1 Sams next year.
Or .9 of Jack.

Does this make you nervous for JB dipping his toes into free agency in the off season? The perceived treasure chest of cap space could dry up pretty quickly with just a few bloated signings.
- PrinceChill

I don't know, I think JB is going to make more of a splash with trades than FA. I think if JB or the Sabres GM was more of a veteran, was more secure in his position he might have seen the red flags of Skinner, trend of up one year, down another, average # of goals, big slump at the end of last year, previous team walking away from him and I am SURE they knew why, and thought longer about giving him that contract, I think that was a tough situation for a young GM but a test where I think it will show he didn't score well.

Upcoming FA's he will not be so desperate to sign and throw the bank at them, I hope so anyway unless they do their due diligence and decide it is a good risk.

We are gonna need more than Cozens to work out, I hope he's a star, but we are gonna need 3 or 4 cheap contracts on this team that can fill spots and help.
- Buff36

3 or 4 cheap contracts to guys making meaningful contributions sounds like a tall order to me. If he pull that off, JB deserves praise.

Just think, if we had that 9 mil we could sign 2 1/2 Sheary or Vesey’s to come in and score 8-10 goals instead of keeping the guy who’s averaged 30 per 82 games and is only 27
- sbroads24

Averages 27 with the inflated 40 goal year and that will go down with his rocking 12 goals this year which is on par with Girgs.

So I see that Skinner is the latest player we're trying to run out of town ? Friggin' morons.

3 or 4 cheap contracts to guys making meaningful contributions sounds like a tall order to me. If he pull that off, JB deserves praise.
- PrinceChill

Most contenders have 6-8. That's our reality in 2 years, once we start paying guys.

So I see that Skinner is the latest player we're trying to run out of town ? Friggin' morons.
- kritter65

I was thinking the same of the coddlers

Sabres are stuck with him.
- PrinceChill

They're stuck with a guy they willingly paid fresh off a 40 goal season playing predominantly with Eichel. Whether you're pro or anti Skinner his usage this season has been completely nonsensical and makes the organization look stupid and completely void or any foresight

3 or 4 cheap contracts to guys making meaningful contributions sounds like a tall order to me. If he pull that off, JB deserves praise.
- PrinceChill

Well Cozens,Mitts,Tage,Asplund,Ruostalanien(spelled wrong) Pilut,Borgen hopefully make meaningful contributions next year. Good thing after this year we will finally start seeing some of the prospects start hitting the system so we can start bringing up players
on there ELC and be able to pay the people that we need to.

Well Cozens,Mitts,Tage,Asplund,Ruostalanien(spelled wrong) Pilut,Borgen hopefully make meaningful contributions next year. Good thing after this year we will finally start seeing some of the prospects start hitting the system so we can start bringing up players
on there ELC and be able to pay the people that we need to.
- Buff36

That’s a heck of a lot of hope.

That’s a heck of a lot of hope.
- PrinceChill

Understand that, don't expect them all to, hope they all do, but we are gonna need the younger players to start filling spots, you want your system to help you with that. Then you can make that 1 big splash, or a few good ones. We were making trades just to fill spots the last 3 years because we had no prospects to fill those spots. Unfortunately some of those guys haven't work out to well.

Just think, if we had that 9 mil we could sign 2 1/2 Sheary or Vesey’s to come in and score 8-10 goals instead of keeping the guy who’s averaged 30 per 82 games and is only 27
- sbroads24

Those help you fit your narrative. Now do Burakovsky and Donskoi. How about Trocheck and Burakovsky ?

Stop footling yourself, Skinner isn’t worth $6M right now the way he’s playing never mind $9M.

Bobby Ryan just came off a Coke and booze bender and has scored more goals than Skinner has the last 3 months.

Leafs win back to back games and sabres lose.

We are done

Those help you fit your narrative. Now do Burakovsky and Donskoi. How about Trocheck and Burakovsky ?

Stop footling yourself, Skinner isn’t worth $6M right now the way he’s playing never mind $9M.

Bobby Ryan just came off a Coke and booze bender and has scored more goals than Skinner has the last 3 months.
- Pegullaville

This gets to the point better than anyone else has, right there.