Breaking: Skinner on the verge of signing monster deal!

TSN’s Bob McKenzie just reported that the Buffalo Sabres are on the verge of signing pending unrestricted free agent Jeff Skinner to a monster deal. 

According to McKenzie, we could see an announcement fairly soon on this deal extension, one that the insider expect to be for eight years with an average annual value of $9 million. 

The 27-year-old scored a career-high 40 goals with 23 assists over 82 games with the Sabres in 2018-19, his first season in Buffalo after being traded by the Carolina Hurricanes last summer. He has managed to top the 30-goal mark four times in his career and reached the 20-goal mark in seven of his nine NHL seasons.

He has however never took part in a playoff contest ever since he was draft in the first round, seventh overall by the hurricanes in 2010. 

Skinner is coming off of a six-year, $34.35 million contract signed with the Hurricanes in 2012. 

The projected cap hit reported by McKenzie would make him the Sabres second-highest paid player behind only Jack Eichel ($10 million AAV).

We awaited the final confirmation from the Sabres, but usually McKenzie knows when a deal is about to get finalized.