Canucks linked to a six-time thirty-goal scorer: Golden opportunity to buy low?

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Cooper Godin
June 26, 2024 (8:04 PM)

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As of tomorrow, Thursday, June 27th, a new name will hit the free agent market after having his contract bought out - Buffalo Sabres forward Jeff Skinner.

Jeff Skinner has three years remaining on his contract with a cap hit of $9 million per season. In the last three seasons, Skinner has looked more and more like the player who selected seventh overall in 2010, but with the Sabres in need of cap space this summer to address areas of need, they'll be moving on from the Toronto native after six seasons.

On Wednesday's edition of Donnie & Dhali, Rick Dhaliwal linked the Vancouver Canucks to Jeff Skinner, who will become an unrestricted free agent once his contract is bought out.

Dhaliwal added that Canucks President of Hockey Operations Jim Rutherford is very familiar with Jeff Skinner as he was the one who drafted him back in 2010 and was his General Manager for four seasons.

Well, we want to wait and see what happens here, Don, and you are correct. Jeff Skinner, the rumour is right now is he will be bought out by the Buffalo Sabres. He's making close to $10 million a year, but the Sabres want to free up some cap space, and they want to go after some big names on the free agent market." Dhaliwal said.

He added, "Now, where it gets interesting with Skinner is Jim Rutherford drafted him in Carolina in 2010. He's 32 years old with 92 goals in the last three years. He had two bad years and followed it up with 30/30/30. He scored 40 goals six years ago. Another option for Elias Pettersson. The Canucks, let's be honest, whether it's a trade, whether it's July 1st, they are looking high and low for a top-six winger, Donny, for Pettersson.

So, could it be Jeff Skinner? Rutherford has a good read on this player. He drafted him and is trying to put two and two together."

Skinner has lit the lamp quite a bit over the last three seasons, scoring 92 goals since the start of the 2021-22 campaign, and that's exactly what the Canucks need right now, is a top-six scoring winger to play alongside Elias Pettersson. There were already several goal scorers for Patrik Allvin to target on the open market. Still, Jeff Skinner could be a cheaper option for the Canucks, with their eyes also on Jake Guentzel and Tyler Toffoli.

Last season, the 32-year-old appeared in 74 games for the Buffalo Sabres, where he recorded 46 points (24 goals, 22 assists), 34 penalty minutes and was a minus-two.

We'll have to wait and see what free agency brings once the market opens at noon ET on Canada Day, but Jeff Skinner would be an intriguing option for Patrik Allvin and the Canucks.

This could be a golden opportunity for the Canucks to buy at a low price a player who will be trying to prove that he still can get it done. Consider this scenario a possible redemption story, much like what the Dallas Stars did with Matt Duchene when they picked him up for pennies on the dollar. He went on to register 65 points in 80 games.