Contract talks between the Buffalo Sabres and Jeff Skinner continue
Bob McKenzie: Sounding like it’s crunch time for contract talks between Jeff Skinner and the Buffalo Sabres.
Sense is that a new contract will be in place in the next day or two, or he’ll be going to test free agency.
If the Sabres and Skinner can get a deal done, would presume it will be for eight years and around a $9 million salary cap hit.
Paul Hamilton: Sabres GM Jason Botterill on pending UFA Jeff Skinner: “Both sides have understood that we wanted to get the head coach in place and then we could ramp up our discussions and we’ve certainly done that and I feel good where it’s at right now and hopefully we can finalize something.”
Lance Lysowski of the Buffalo News: New Sabres coach Ralph Krueger met with reporters today. Krueger said that he’s spoken with Jeff Skinner and is optimistic the team and Skinner will be able to work something out.
“For me, more than anything, the conversation was about how I as a coach would like to utilize his skill set and his talent,” Krueger said during the 20-minute news conference. “I work on the basis that Jeff Skinner is a Buffalo Sabre and as a result that’s how our conversation went. Everything else Jason has complete control of that process and it will happen for what is best for the Sabres in the end.”
Bob McKenzie reported last week that the Sabres and Skinner were “very close” to a long-term deal that could be between $9 and $9.5 million a season.
Sabres GM Botterill on contract talks.
“I’d say discussions continue to go very well, but as I’ve said before, you never have a deal completely done until there is a signature on there,” Botterill said. “As I’ve said before, through the whole process, both sides want to get a deal. I think it’s been a very good relationship from the Buffalo Sabres’ standpoint, and I also think it’s been a very good relationship from Jeff’s standpoint. We’ve continued the dialogue.”
Heather Engel of NHL.com: Sabres GM Botterill on Skinner not being re-signed yet.
“I understand people always want a deal as of yesterday,” Botterill said. “I think there’s just an urgency because we’ve always wanted the player. We’ve always wanted to have him back. We want him to be part of our group moving forward here and we’ve always continued to try to look at our group and try and add to our group versus trying to replace.”
