Ryan S. Clark, NHL reporterJul 1, 2024, 08:22 PM ET
CloseRyan S. Clark is an NHL reporter for ESPN.
After being bought out by the Buffalo Sabres, a team that has missed the playoffs for 13 straight years, Jeff Skinner signed a one-year deal with the Edmonton Oilers, a team that was a win away from winning the Stanley Cup.
Skinner joins the Oilers after the Sabres bought out the final three years of an eight-year contract that saw him earn $9 million annually. With the Oilers, Skinner will make $3 million for his year of service.
Finding forwards who could contribute at a team-friendly price was the biggest challenge facing the Stanley Cup runners-up entering free agency.
One of the way the Oilers created additional salary cap space was buying out goaltender Jack Campbell for the final three years of his deal, which saw him earn $5 million annually.
Edmonton entered free agency with seven unrestricted free agent forwards with the notion that some of them might go elsewhere such as Warren Foegele, who signed a three-year deal with the Los Angeles Kings.
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The Oilers re-signed two of those seven UFAs — Connor Brown and Corey Perry — to one-year deals worth a combined $2.15 million. They then signed Kings forward Viktor Arvidsson to a two-year deal worth $4 million annually. Plus, they also signed defenseman Josh Brown for three years at $1 million annually.
Later in the day, the Oilers also reportedly struck a new deal for Mattias Janmark with the forward returning on a three-year deal worth $1.45 million annually.
While those signings saw the Oilers address their needs, it also saw them have less than $1.35 million in cap space at a time in which restricted free agents Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway need new deals which could likely force the club to shed cap space via trade.
By signing Skinner, they’re getting someone who has authored six, 20-goal seasons who also had three 30-goal seasons with the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Sabres were literally…
Source link : https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/40477267/jeff-skinner-signs-edmonton-oilers-buyout
Author : Ryan S. Clark
Publish date : 2024-07-02 01:23:19
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