After weeks of speculation, the Buffalo Sabres have officially bought out forward Jeff Skinner. Because of this, the 32-year-old winger will now get to test the free-agent market, where he should receive plenty of interest.
The Sabres buying out Skinner was primarily due to the $9 million cap hit he carried until the end of the 2026-27 season. He is still an impactful sniper at this point in his career. With the Bruins looking to add more scoring to their roster, they stand out as a potential club that could make a push for Skinner on July 1.
Skinner, 32, appeared in 74 games this past season with the Sabres, posting 24 goals and 46 points. Overall, it was a decent year from the veteran, but he showed just back in 2022-23 that he can do far more when playing at his best. In 79 games that campaign, he posted 35 goals and 82 points.
If the Bruins landed Skinner, he would provide a nice boost to the Bruins' middle six. In addition, he would give them another quality sniper to work with on their power play, which is needed.
If Skinner can be had at a reasonable price on a short-term deal, the Bruins shouldn't be afraid to take a gamble on him. At a minimum, he would give them a veteran forward who provides solid secondary scoring.
