Buffalo Sabres: It’s time to avoid criticizing Jeff Skinner contract

It has been believed Buffalo Sabres winger Jeff Skinner’s contract is either the worst or one of the worst in team history. But this shouldn’t be the case. 

The time has come to rethink Jeff Skinner’s contract with the Buffalo Sabres. You all know the story: On June 7th, 2019, Skinner signed his eight-year, $72 million, $9 million AAV deal. Then he rewarded the Sabres with 37 points, 21 goals, and 16 assists in 112 games over the next two seasons.

To further put things into perspective, Skinner averaged 0.33 points per game. Not only do these numbers indicate what might be arguably the worst contract of the era, but it probably made a Worst NHL Contracts of All-Time List somewhere – or perhaps a spot on the following piece from The Athletic. 

However, there are things we need to put into perspective. Skinner, who arrived in a trade with the Carolina Hurricanes, put up 63 points, 40 goals, and 23 assists in 2018-19. Enter Ralph Krueger, who had a natural talent for tanking an entire roster, and Skinner was no exception.

Following his 63-point outing and the Tage Thompson signing, Buffalo Sabres winger Jeff Skinner’s contract is looking better than many think.

Under Krueger, it seemed like everyone on the Buffalo Sabres roster regressed. Jack Eichel scored 78 points in 68 games in 2019-20. But Sam Reinhart, the team’s second-leading scorer, put up just 50 in 69 contests.

In 2020-21, Reinhart led the team with 40 points in 54 games. Victor Olofsson finished second that year with 32 in 56 games. Third place? Rasmus Dahlin with 23 points in 56 contests.

Again, just about everyone tanked, and Skinner was one of a few Sabres along with Kyle Okposo and Tage Thompson to put up meager numbers. Okposo and Thompson both dramatically improved when the Sabres admitted their mistake and got rid of Krueger, and Skinner once again put up 63 points in Don Granto’s first full season.

And he did this playing with a pair of first liners in Alex Tuch, Tage Thompson, and occasionally Victor Olofsson. Tuch and Thompson had never regularly seen the first line, so there was potential disaster written all over it.

Except the trio built chemistry, and Skinner finished the season second in points, second in goals (33), and tied for second in assists (30). Given the chemistry between the three, and now the long-term contracts that Thompson and Tuch also have, Skinner’s horrific contract has performed at least a 90, with potential for a 180.

He is also 30 years old and in the thick of his prime. So while Skinner’s contract looked horrendous once upon a time, it’s looked better and better as the 2021-22 season wore on. If he repeats or even augments his success from last year, expect less criticism regarding the winger’s lucrative deal.

(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference, Contract data provided by Cap Friendly)