Sabers buy out Skinner’s contract

The Buffalo Sabers have bought out the remainder of forward Jeff Skinner’s contract, the team announced Sunday.

Skinner, 32, had three years remaining on the eight-year, $72 million contract he signed in June 2019. As a result of the buyout, the Sabres will pay Skinner for six years, but with a salary cap hit reduced below his initial cap hit of $9 million on average.

The move will provide additional salary cap space for the Sabres entering free agency, which opens at noon Monday, July 1.