Offseason Baseline with Skinner Buyout

Team: 2024-25 Buffalo Sabres

Initial Creation Date: Feb. 17, 2024

Published: Feb. 17, 2024

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

I like Skinner as a player but he is no longer in our contending window because next season is going to be a developmental year as well. I just don't think our prospects move the needle enough for other GMs to give us major pieces in return. The objects of trade talks are on teams where the current GMs don't have the job security to wait on prospects to hit. That's something that doesn't get discussed enough. You aren't prying good players off of contenders and good players on bad teams have GMs that will get fired before the prospect has a chance to develop. So buyout Skinner and that gives cap flexibility to keep Mittelstadt while still being able to add on defense. As long as Kulich plays less than 9 games, he'll be a Sabre for 3 full ELC years. We'll also have Ostlund, Walhberg, and the 2024 1st rounder as cheap ELCs that can contribute until the Skinner buyout is off of the books. It also saves money for the start of the Tuch extension. Again, this is a baseline with no moves but this would be a fun team to watch.