The Carolina Hurricanes have traded forward Jeff Skinner to the Buffalo Sabres for forward prospect Cliff Pu, a 2019 second-round pick, a 2020 third- and sixth-round pick.
The 26-year old Skinner was drafted 7th overall in the 2010 draft by the Hurricanes. He carries a $5.725 million cap hit and will be a free agent after this season.
The 20-year old Pu was drafted 69th overall in the third-round of the 2016 draft by the Sabres. He carries a $745,000 cap hit.
David Pagnotta: Hurricanes GM Don Waddell: “With Jeff becoming a UFA next summer, this was the right time to move on, and to provide Jeff with a fresh start. We talked to every team over past 4 months, and the Sabres were the team that (gave us) the best value, including 3 picks & a prospect we like in Pu”
Thoughts from the media
After trading F Jeff Skinner, #Canes have $18.5M in projected cap space with a tentative roster of 20 (11F/7D/2G).https://t.co/UOwu0C674D pic.twitter.com/PaFbAOKoUb
— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) August 2, 2018
Since entering the league in 2010-11, Skinner has scored the 20th-most goals in the NHL (204). According to @CorsicaHockey, he’s tied for sixth during that span with 143 5-on-5 goals. pic.twitter.com/BC9ZrNutwe
— Sabres PR (@SabresPR) August 2, 2018
Chip Alexander: “Sad day for the Canes franchise. No way to put a positive spin on this one. There was so much promise with Jeff Skinner, so much potential, Provided a lot of excitement for Canes fans.”
Jason Greger: “Skinner waived his NMC to go to Buffalo. Eichel and Dahlin likely reasons. Sabres have some solid young pieces and currently have three 1st rounders for 2019.”
Bill Hoppe: “The Sabres get a Jeff Skinner who’ll be hellbent on having a monster season. Not a bad deal, if I say so.”
Chad DeDominicis: “Important key here to remember with Skinner on the one-year deal is he bad to waive the NMC to come to Buffalo. Reports a month ago stated he wasn’t waiving to just go anywhere.”
Dan Rosen: “There could be a lot of incentive for Jeff Skinner to re-sign with the Sabres too. Young centers to play with on a team that should be on the rise in a great hockey market that is close to home. Skinner has one year left on his deal before he can become a UFA.”
Sean Tierney: “Remember, picks from about 24th overall are all lottery tickets and not a whole lot different from one to the next. BUF did well to avoid surrendering a premium pick here.”
Mark Scheig: “Skinner is UFA after this season. Canes got decent haul given circumstances. And Buffalo, outside shot at playoffs in East. Yep I said it.”
Michael Augello: “Solid acquisition for the #Sabres. Skinner had 24 goals last season, but the Canes have been intent on trading him since even before Dundon took over, which is bizarre for a team that has had trouble scoring goals.”
John Vogl: “Here’s the huge change to the wing position the Sabres needed. Pu is big chip, but obviously Skinner is proven”
Anthony Petrielli: “Over the last 3 seasons combined, Jeff Skinner is tied for 12th in the NHL in total goals scored with 89 and he’s 26 years old. Carolina traded him for a collection of mystery boxes and quite literally might not get back a single NHLer for him.”
Jonathan Willis: “There are circumstances where this makes sense to me from CAR’s perspective, especially if they were constrained by Skinner’s NMC. But there’s no question it’s a huge win for BUF.”
Mark Scheig: “Sabres in: Hutton, Dahlin, Hunwick, Skinner, Berglund, Sobotka, Sheary, Thompson … Sabres out: O’Reilly, Lehner”
Ryan Stimson: “Sabres added Skinner and Sheary without giving up a 1st rd pick or roster player. That’s some good GMing.”
AJ Haefele: “That’s a cheap price for Jeff Skinner. I am surprised.”
Jeff Skinner
Cliff Pu