Skinner looking for big money from the Sabres on a long-term deal
WGR 550: Darren Dreger said on NBCSN that there is mutual interest between the Buffalo Sabres and Jeff Skinner‘s camp to get a contract extension signed before July 1st. Dreger added that he knows Skinner wants to stay in Buffalo.
Jeremy White: Source is saying that Skinner is looking for an eight-year extension at between $9 and $9.5 million per season to keep him from testing the free agent market.
Joe Diabiase of WGR 550: The $9 to $9.5 million that Skinner is looking for may seem like a lot but it’s not really given his scoring over the past years.
The Sabres have $10.6 million coming off the books with UFAs Jason Pominville and Matt Moulson, so it’s not an issue fitting in the extra salary. Patrik Berglund‘s $3.85 million is now also off the books.
They also don’t have any other free agents – unrestricted or restricted – that are going to require a big deal this offseason. They will have to keep in mind that Rasmus Dahlin and Casey Mittelstadt will require big deals in the next couple of seasons.
Maple Leafs and Gardiner’s have been talking but no offer
Jonas Siegel of The Athletic: Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jake Gardiner hasn’t received a contract offer yet and he’s not really thinking about it, despite talks between the Leafs and Gardiner’s agent.
“Nothing’s really been on the table so I haven’t thought too much about it, really,” Gardiner, a pending unrestricted free agent next summer, said. “When that day comes, I’ll talk with my family and see what happens.”
Fitting an extension in for Gardiner wouldn’t be easy.
“We’d like him to be here, (but) it’s not as simple as it sounds,” Dubas said of contract talks with Gardiner during an unscheduled meet-up with media earlier this week. “We only have a certain amount that you can divvy up and it’s trying to make that all work.”
If the Maple Leafs were able to somehow get Gardiner signed to cap friendly deal, they may still nee tod move some salary out – possibly Nikita Zaitsev and/or Connor Brown.
Aside from RFAs Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, Andreas Johnsson and Kasperi Kapanen will also need new deals.