Buffalo Sabres: Will Jeff Skinner exceed 2021-22 production?

Buffalo Sabres left winger Jeff Skinner had arguably one of the more memorable comeback campaigns in the NHL last season.  

Between October 2019 and April 2021, Buffalo Sabres left winger Jeff Skinner played in 112 games. During that span, he logged a whopping 37 points, 21 goals, and 16 assists. Like his future line mate in Tage Thompson, Skinner became an afterthought. Someone who would leave a seat warm before another took it in the near-future.

Skinner wasn’t the only Sabre struggling during that span. Nor was Thompson. Defenseman Rasmus Dahlin was another name that jumps out.

Of course, all signs point to Ralph Krueger’s mismanagement of the Sabres. Those claims were more speculative until Don Granato took over and within a season-and-a-half, he simultaneously turned around the careers of the three aforementioned players.

Will Jeff Skinner deliver an encore performance for the Buffalo Sabres?

Last season, Skinner played in 80 games and recorded 63 points, with 33 goals and 30 assists. It seemed as though no one had an answer for him. Especially during a 5-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens, in which he scored four goals.

Skinner will turn 30 two days from now. In NHL years, that’s still relatively young. It wouldn’t surprise me that, given the Sabres improved scoring output in March and April 2022, that he sets a new career-high in points next season.

Skinner and the Sabres now have one season of experience playing together. And that will go a long way as 2022-23 progresses. Gone are the days of immense roster turnover as the era of roster reinforcement has arrived.

Those reinforcers include rookies like Owen Power, and most likely incoming AHL talent like Jack Quinn and J.J. Peterka. Overall, Skinner is going to have far more competent scorers to work with. And that will both improve his output and that of his surrounding teammates.

The not-so-bold prediction is that Skinner will score 70 points for the first time in his career. And that new career-high will also threaten 40 goals.

(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)