A year ago, Jeff Skinner lasted less than a day on the open market after the Buffalo Sabres bought out the final three seasons of his eight-year, $72 million contract.
The Edmonton Oilers believed he could play alongside superstars Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl, so they quickly signed the winger to a one-year, $3 million deal.
In late December, the Oilers scratched Skinner for the first time, and he sat out all but five of their playoff games during their second straight run to the Stanley Cup final.
This year, fresh off an underwhelming 16-goal campaign, Skinner signed another one-year, $3 million contract on July 11, this time with the lowly San Jose Sharks.
Skinner, who scored 153 goals for the Sabres over six seasons, will possibly have opportunities to skate on the Sharks’ first or second line. Still, having recently turned 33, he could be down to his last chance if he doesn’t perform well.
Updates on some former Sabres and Buffalo-area players are below.
– Winger Nicolas Aube-Kubel signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 in the NHL and $500,000 in the minors with the Minnesota Wild.
Following a solid training camp last year, Aube-Kubel, who was signed to help bolster the Sabres’ revamped fourth line, injured his knee in the season opener and struggled when he returned.
Aube-Kubel, 29, played just 19 games before the Sabres waived him and assigned him to the Rochester Americans. He played 12 contests in the AHL before being traded to the New York Rangers.
– Defenseman Henri Jokiharju signed a three-year, $9 million contract with the Boston Bruins.
Jokiharju, 26, played 351 games for the Sabres over six years before they traded him to Boston on March 7.
– Defenseman Dennis Gilbert signed a one-year, $875,000 contract with the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Buffalo native, 28, played 25 games for the Sabres last season before they dealt him to the Ottawa Senators on March 7.
– Defenseman Kale Clague, who spent all of last season in Rochester, signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 in the NHL with the Winnipeg Jets
Clague, 27, played 36 games for the Sabres over the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons. He set new career highs by scoring 10 goals and 39 points in 69 games last season.
– Winger Lukas Rousek, who also spent all of last season in Rochester, signed a two-year contract with HV71, a team in the Swedish Hockey League.
Rousek, 26, played 17 games for the Sabres in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons.
– Defenseman Ethan Prow, who spent the last four seasons in Rochester, signed a one-year contract with Wolsburg Grizzlys, a team in Deutsche Eishockey Liga
Prow, 32, played four games for the Sabres in 2021-22. He played one season in Germany before joining the Buffalo organization.
– Some former Sabres – goalie James Reimer, who played 22 games last season, and winger Victor Olofsson, who is coming off a 15-goal campaign for the Vegas Golden Knights – are still unsigned.
Reimer, 37, could retire. Meanwhile, Olofsson, 30, might have to settle for a training camp tryout.
–Some local players have recently found work overseas.
Center Andrew Poturalski, arguably the best player outside of the NHL, signed a one-year contract with Avangard Omsk, a team in the Russian Kontinental Hockey League.
The Williamsville native, 31, earned AHL MVP honors after scoring 30 goals and 73 points in 59 games with the San Jose Barracuda last season. He also played three games for the Sharks.
– Defenseman Joseph Cecconi, a Youngstown native, also signed a one-year deal with Avangard.
Cecconi, 28, spent last season in the AHL with the Ontario Reign and Iowa Wild.
– Winger Justin Bailey signed a one-year AHL contract with the San Diego Gulls.
The Williamsville native, 30, spent last season with the Gulls and Barracuda.