At first glance, the notion of trading Jeff Skinner would likely be dismissed by many Sabres fans, and their reasoning is sound. When Skinner inked his contract before the 2019-20 season—an eight-year deal with an average annual value of $9 million—it came on the heels of a stellar performance, where he notched 40 goals and 63 points. However, his output fluctuated, with just 37 points and 21 goals in his subsequent 112 games, which led to criticism of his contract as a poor investment.
Yet, since then, Skinner has demonstrated marked improvement, tallying 191 points and 92 goals across his next 233 games. Notably, he achieved a career high in the 2022-23 season with 82 points. So, why would it be deemed sensible to trade a player whose performance has been consistently solid, if not impressive?
It makes sense for the Sabres to trade Jeff Skinner in 2024
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To begin with, I want to emphasize that just because there are several reasons why such a trade might be sensible, it doesn’t necessarily mean I would advocate for it. There are valid arguments, some of which I might agree with, against the trade. However, I strongly believe in considering multiple perspectives, and that’s what today’s discussion is all about.
It’s also important to note that Skinner possesses a no-movement clause, meaning any potential trade would require his approval. This could provide reassurance for those who wish to see Skinner remain with the team, but if he believes his situation would be better elsewhere, he may be open to the possibility of being moved by general manager Kevyn Adams.
Additionally, I’d like to clarify that this discussion is purely speculative. However, given Skinner’s less consistent performance last season and his significant impact on the Sabres’ salary cap, it’s worth exploring the idea.
