Despite waiving NMC, Skinner expected to stay with Sabres
It was a question coming into this week whether or not the Buffalo Sabres and Jeff Skinner would agree to waive Skinner’s no-move clause in his contract. The news dropped yesterday that the Sabres did waive Skinner’s NMC before the upcoming Seattle Kraken expansion draft.
The Sabres now will not be forced to protect Skinner going into the July 21st Seattle expansion draft, which is good news for them. Now, Buffalo can use that extra spot to protect a younger player that they hope to build around. One specific player who that could be is Rasmus Asplund. Whether or not Skinner is taken by the Kraken in their expansion draft is obviously to be determined, but some experts do not see him heading out west.
Friedman on The Instigators says he doesn’t see Seattle taking Skinner; they want financial flexibility.
— The Charging Buffalo (@TheChargingBUF) July 15, 2021
Bringing on Jeff Skinner would be an expensive decision for the NHL’s newest franchise, as he is not set to become a free agent until after the 2027 season has concluded. And he also carries a $9 million cap hit each season until he reaches the end of his contract.
The Sabres will be releasing their list of players that will be eligible to be taken by the Kraken this upcoming weekend—and waving Skinner’s no-move clause pretty much solidified that he will be one of the players on that list.
Even after this move has been made, I would not expect Skinner to leave Buffalo any time soon. He is now two seasons removed from his last productive season, and he also carries a massive contract. It would take a lot to happen for any other team to want to bring him in at the moment.
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But maybe now, with the coaching change in Buffalo and the roster changes that could very well occur before next season starts, we could see Skinner revert back to what we saw him play like back in the 2018-2019 season.