Former Hurricanes Star Faces Potential BuyoutJeff Skinner Faces Potential Buyout

At some point, you just have to feel bad for Jeff Skinner.

The 2010 seventh-overall pick showed early promise as a franchise player with a standout 31-goal rookie season, earning him the Calder Trophy. However, his career has been marked by inconsistency.

As a former Carolina Hurricanes star, Skinner's performance fluctuated between red-hot seasons and disappointing regressions, causing frustration among fans. Despite this, he remained one of the few bright spots during a tough decade for the team.

Ultimately, the Hurricanes needed change on the ice, especially with new leadership at the helm. Moving Skinner became a priority due to his impending pay raise and his poor defensive play, which didn't fit into Rod Brind'Amour's plans. Consequently, Skinner was traded to the Buffalo Sabres in 2018, just a year before Carolina ended their decade-long playoff drought.

Now, with the Sabres potentially on the brink of a turnaround, Skinner's future with the team is uncertain once again. According to Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman on The Jeff Marek Show, "There's been some rumblings around the league that [buying out Jeff Skinner] is a possibility. ... The Sabres aren't talking and nobody is really talking here, but the word is definitely out there that for Skinner, a buyout is a possibility."

If the Sabres proceed with a buyout, CapFriendly.com reports it would cost them $19,666,670 spread over six seasons:

- 2024-25: $1,444,445
- 2025-26: $4,444,445
- 2026-27: $6,444,445
- 2027-28: $2,444,445
- 2028-29: $2,444,445
- 2029-30: $2,444,445

Despite his talent, Skinner holds the unfortunate NHL record for playing 1,006 games without a postseason appearance. He ranks 15th among active players in goals with 357 and has 313 assists. However, his hefty contract�three years remaining on an eight-year deal at $9 million AAV with a full no-movement clause�and lack of defensive skills have left many questioning his value.