Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) – With the Buffalo Sabres already in Las Vegas for the 2024 NHL Draft, it’s going to be a very busy week or two for general manager Kevyn Adams and his staff.
The draft starts Friday with Round 1, while Rounds 2-7 will take place Saturday. Before that happens, the NHL buyout period begins Wednesday night.
This past Thursday, Adams was asked about the possibility of the team buying out winger Jeff Skinner. He said every option with his future remains on the table. He had the chance to simply say it wasn’t happening, but didn’t.
Back on June 18, Sportsnet NHL insider Elliotte Friedman said on the "Jeff Marek Show" the rumblings he’s heard around the NHL is that a buyout is "possible".
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Adams has until June 30 at 5 p.m. ET to buy Skinner out.
If the Sabres do buy out the remainder of Skinner's contract, the team would have to write a check of $2,444,445 every year to the winger for the next six years. The total savings would be $7,333,333.
The breakdown of the annual salary cap hit for the Skinner buyout would be:
- Year 1: $1,444,445
- Year 2: $4,444,445
- Year 3: $6,444,445
- Year 4: $2,444,445
- Year 5: $2,444,445
- Year 6: $2,444,445
Buffalo has six restricted free agents that must receive qualifying offers by June 30. They are, along with their qualifying offers:
- G - Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: $971,250
- C - Peyton Krebs: $874,125
- D - Henri Jokiharju: $2,600,000
- D - Jacob Bryson: $1,900,000
- D - Riley Stillman: $1,350,000
- D - Kale Clague: $813,750
Defenseman Calle Sjalin was also set to become a restricted free agent this offseason, but he has already decided to return to Europe and play in his home nation of Sweden.
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Then on July 1, the free agency period begins, as does the Sabres Development Camp.
Adams admitted Thursday this is the first time he’s interested in trading his first-round pick, which is the 11th overall selection. If the right deal doesn’t come along, some players to watch at Pick 11 would be forwards Beckett Sennecke, Tij Iginla, Cole Eiserman and Cayden Lindstrom.
I’ll be in Las Vegas for the NHL Draft, while Brian Koziol and Brayton Wilson get our coverage started Friday night at 7 p.m. ET.
