Buffalo Sabres Acquire Jeff Skinner in Trade with Hurricanes

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Sabres general manager Jason Botterill continued fulfilling an offseason objective to shake up a team that finished last for the third time in five years, acquiring playmaking forward Jeff Skinner in a trade with the Carolina Hurricanes.

In giving up prospect forward Cliff Pu and three draft picks, the Sabres landed a three-time 30-goal-scorer, and the NHL's 2011 rookie of the year, who has the potential of playing on Buffalo's top line centered by Jack Eichel.

Skinner's acquisition also offsets the production Buffalo lost in trading second-line center Ryan O'Reilly to St. Louis last month.

For Carolina, Skinner wasn't part of the team's long-term plans that involve rebuilding through youth. The 26-year-old was considered expendable because he's entering the final year of his contract and eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

Skinner waved his no-trade clause in agreeing to be traded to Buffalo, where he will be playing closer to his hometown of Toronto, which is about a two-hour drive away.

The 20-year-old Pu was the Sabres' third-round pick in the 2016 draft and completed his fourth season in the Ontario Hockey League last year. He has scored 80 goals and 210 points in 232 career games split over three teams.

The Hurricanes also acquired a 2019 second-round draft pick and Buffalo's third- and sixth-round picks in the 2020 draft.

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