Skinner stays at Sabers with a $ 72 million, 8-year contract

Jeff Skinner, who would have been one of the most coveted free agent players this summer, is officially withdrawn from the market after signing a 72-year contract extension on Friday for 72 years with the Sabers of Buffalo.

Skinner, 27, scored 40 career goals in her first season at Buffalo, which she acquired last summer from the Carolina Hurricanes for Cliff Pu, as well as Buffalo's second-round pick this year and the third and sixth 2020. He gave up his trade protection to come to the Sabers.

Skinner opted not to sign an extension during the season, suggesting that the Sabers could move him to the trade deadline. But while Skinner was expecting to maximize his potential for winnings over the course of a career year, Buffalo GM Jason Botterill was confident that the team and the player could reach an agreement.

Eight. More. Years. ? pic.twitter.com/i6AfBlizT6

– Buffalo Sabers (@BuffaloSabres) June 8, 2019

"Both parties want to get an agreement, I think the relations are very good and we continue the dialogue.I understand that people want an agreement to be reached yesterday," said Botterill at a conference presenting new head coach Ralph Krueger. "We want him to be part of our group to go forward here."

Skinner scored 40 goals and added 23 assists in 82 games for Buffalo. He spent most of the season with star center Jack Eichel, who scored career highs in goals (28) and points (82). But Skinner's production has dropped dramatically in the last two months of the season, with the Sabers no longer in contention, scoring only four goals and two assists in their last 19 games.

Clearly, this did not make the team think. Skinner's average annual contract value of $ 9 million makes him the third highest paid winger, just behind Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals ($ 9,538,462) and Jamie Benn of the Dallas Stars ($ 9,500,000). Skinner has the second highest cap hit on the Sabers behind Eichel, who earns $ 10 million against the cap.

Because they were the team he had played with last season, the Sabers were the only ones able to give Skinner an eight-year contract.

Skinner has 244 goals and 198 assists in 661 games, the majority with the Hurricanes. He won the Calder Trophy as a rookie of the year in 2011. He has not yet played in a post-season match of his NHL career; the Sabers have not appeared in the playoffs since 2011.