Did the Buffalo Sabres ultimately win the Jeff Skinner trade?
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.
Skinner in Carolina
Skinner was one of the best players of the decade for the Carolina Hurricanes. Though unfortunately for the winger, he never got to play in a playoff game while he served as the face of the franchise. The Hurricanes would make the playoffs the year they traded Skinner, however, and they haven’t missed since.
But that doesn’t mean Skinner didn’t look good. During his time in Raleigh, he posted 379 points in 579 games, scoring 204 career goals and 175 assists. Skinner also made one All-Star Game appearance with the ‘Canes that occurred during his rookie season in 2011. He also won the Calder Memorial Trophy that year and became a member of the 2010-11 All-Rookie Team.
Despite not making the playoffs, Skinner was a successful player in Raleigh. And despite the team’s struggles during the era, he served as one reason for fans to flock to PNC Arena. While he spent only four seasons in Buffalo, has he performed better with the Sabres? Let’s find out.
Skinner in Buffalo
When Jeff Skinner joined the Buffalo Sabres, he was among one of the best players in the NHL. So much that he earned a trip to his second All-Star Game. He finished third in points that season, behind only ex-Sabres Jack Eichel (82 points) and Sam Reinhart (65 points).
However, when the Sabres fired Phil Housely following the 2018-19 NHL Season and replaced him with the infamous Ralph Krueger, Skinner’s play freefell, as did that of many prominent Sabres.
The result was substantially less playing time, especially during the 2020-21 season, in which he logged just 14:31 of ice time. His 6.3 percent shooting percentage also marked a career-low, 1.4 percent worse than his previous low of 7.7 percent, which occurred in 2014-15 and again in 2019-20.
Things looked over for Skinner, but the Don Granato Effect took hold in 2021-22. The winger found his old form and once again tied his career-high in points with 63. Skinner also set a new milestone with 30 assists, and his 12.6 percent shooting percentage was his highest since he joined the organization.
Verdict
They say it often takes at least three seasons to judge a trade, which contradicts my spur of the moment victory laps regarding the Jack Eichel trade that occurred last season. But at least the Buffalo Sabres won a few early battles against their ex-captain.
As for the Skinner trade, this one is still up in the air. Skinner currently holds the NHL record for most regular season appearances without playing in a playoff game, and his presence hasn’t exactly helped the team make the playoffs. Yet, anyway. So we can’t claim victory here.
Further, it also depends on what Pyotr Kochetkov will do. Three NHL appearances is not an accurate sample size to judge a player. But, if Kochetkov continues to develop and post stellar performances, the ‘Canes may take this one.
Related Story. Was the Jack Eichel trade franchise-altering?. light
Or, both franchises benefit from their top players in the trade to the point to where there is no overall victor. Right now, so many outcomes can happen and we will find out more as the 2020s progress.
(Statistics and historical references provided by Hockey-Reference)