NHL Rumors: Buffalo Sabres – Sam Reinhart and Jeff Skinner
The Buffalo Sabres and Jeff Skinner are not focusing on a contract extension just yet.
Reinhart still without a deal

Joe Yerdon: Buffalo Sabres GM Jason Botterill said that there are no updates with regards to restricted free agent Sam Reinhart‘s contract. The Sabres are looking forward to getting Reinhart back for next season.

Skinner’s long-term future with the Sabres ???

Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News: Newly acquired winger Jeff Skinner has one-year remaining on his contract. If they are not able to re-sign him during the season, they can look to trade him at the trade deadline in February.

With Skinner only giving the Carolina Hurricanes a “very limited” number of teams he’d accept a trade too, one would assume he’d be interested in staying long-term.

Sportsnet: Buffalo Sabres GM Jason Botterill said on Thursday that it was still too early to start contract extension talks with Skinner.

“Right now, our focus with Jeff is to make his transition into Buffalo as easy as possible for him,” Botterill said. “We’ll talk about things such as an extension or contract down the road.”

John Vogl of The Athletic: Jeff Skinner hasn’t really thought about an extension with the Sabres just yet.

“Right now I haven’t really thought about it,” Skinner said Friday, one day after being traded from Carolina. “The last 24 to 48 hours have been pretty busy, and I’m just trying to sort of get through everything that’s going on.

“Obviously, I’m just excited to start the season. That’s what my focus is, and I think that’s what my focus is going to be for the next little while.”

If Skinner plays with Jack Eichel, it would definitely help out with his scoring numbers and his next salary demands.

The Sabres will have $10.6 million coming off the books next offseason when Jason Pominville and Matt Moulson‘s contracts come off the books.

Skinner trade wasn’t about money

Chip Alexander and Luke DeCock of the Raleigh News & Observer: Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon after GM Don Waddell traded Jeff Skinner to the Buffalo Sabres for futures.

“This was not money motivated,” Dundon said. “This was simply that we think the team has a better chance to perform at the level we think it can perform at right now.”