The Jeff Skinner saga rolls on as we approach the start of June on Saturday.
Discussions between the pending unrestricted free agent and the Buffalo Sabres are starting to "intensify", per reports from TSN's Bob McKenzie on Wednesday. As we sit about a month away from the start of NHL Free Agency on July 1, the clock is ticking on negotiations. McKenzie also reports that the "sweet spot" between the Sabres and Skinner's representatives seems to be sitting somewhere between $8.5 million and $9.5 million.
TSN's Darren Dreger joined Andrew Peters, Craig Rivet and Martin Biron on The Instigators on Friday to provided some further insight into the negotiations between the Sabres and Skinner.
Here is what he had to say:
Dreger on the state of negotiations:
"Things have definitely progressed this week. That was as expected. [General manager] Jason Botterill just got back from the World Championships. Obviously with the NHL Combine in Buffalo, he knew he'd have an opportunity to connect with Newport Sports, who represent Jeff Skinner, and that's happened. It sounds like they're having progressive conversation, but to say that something's imminent and that I'd expect a deal to get done today, that might be a bit of a stretch. Things can change with a phone call."
Dreger on mutual interest:
"I just know that the Buffalo Sabres really want Jeff Skinner back. Jeff Skinner really wants to play in Buffalo. He had great success this year. I'd be surprised if a deal wasn't announced in the very near future."
Dreger on inching closer to free agency:
"There's a danger if you creep closer to July 1st. The player could have had enough of the process, saying 'look, I'm this far. I might as well test the market.' Credit to Jason Botterill, Sabres' management and Newport Sports for keeping things very amicable. There's been dialogue throughout the process, but I don't get the sense that it's ever turned nasty or felt even a hint of bitterness during this process."
Dreger on preferred salary:
"I think Buffalo would've preferred to keep Jeff Skinner's annual average salary in the $8 [million]'s. Skinner and Newport Sports likely feel that he's earned a number likely around $9 million dollars or just over that mark. It's a negotiation. It's been that way from the beginning. They're at a certain point now where they're getting very close to closing on it. I don't believe there was ever a sense that one side was ready to take an offer off the table. I think they've done real good work in keeping the lines of communication open."
You can hear the entire interview below:
