Jeff Skinner became a member of the Buffalo Sabres in 2018 and since then, he has seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. Did the Sabres win out?
The Buffalo Sabres acquired Jeff Skinner on August 2nd 2018 in a trade that sent Cliff Pu, a 2019 second round pick, plus third and sixth round picks in 2020 to Raleigh. Early on, it was a phenomenal move for the Sabres, who saw Skinner score a career-high 40 goals and tie his career best in points (63). But Skinner saw his ups and downs, especially during the infamous Ralph Krueger era.
Cardiac Cane recently posted an article giving their take on the Jeff Skinner trade and today, you will read it from Sabre Noise’s angle. Like the article linked above, you will get a full breakdown of the trade, Skinner’s performance in both Raleigh and Buffalo, and we will finish with a final verdict.
Breaking down the Buffalo Sabres trade for Jeff Skinner
The Buffalo Sabres selected Cliff Pu with the 69th pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. But two seasons later, he was on the move along with three draft picks to the Carolina Hurricanes organization and Skinner was on his way to a struggling Sabres franchise.
While Skinner’s presence helped make the Sabres exciting early, it didn’t stop the team from slowly declining back into relative obscurity as the 2018-19 season progressed. A ten-game winning streak in November served as the team’s high-water mark. And the 2018-19 season did the same for Skinner.
Between October 2019 and May 2021, Skinner struggled on the ice, scoring just 37 times in 112 games. It looked like his best days were behind him until Don Granato took the job at head coach.
Breaking down the Carolina Hurricanes trade for Cliff Pu, draft picks
On the other side, Pu never suited up for the Hurricanes. But it didn’t mean the acquired draft picks did not have value. The ‘Canes drafted Alexander Nikishin with their 2020 third-round pick. They also traded away the sixth round pick and goaltender Scott Darling for James Reimer, who compiled a 29-11-4 record in the net for Carolina.
The ‘Canes may have struck gold with their second-round pick, Pyotr Kochetkov. The goaltender made his NHL debut in 2021-22, compiling a 3-0 record and is viewed as the goalie of the future down in Carolina.
So, did the Buffalo Sabres win this thing? The Carolina Hurricanes? Or is the jury still out? Keep reading as we break down Jeff Skinner’s time in Carolina versus his time in Buffalo before we come to a verdict.