The Buffalo Sabres acquired forward Jeff Skinner from the Carolina Hurricanes last week for a package of four players including forward Cliff Pu, a highly touted power forward in the Sabres system.
Skinner scored 24 goals and had 25 assists last season. He has scored 30 or more goals three times in his career including a career high 37 goals in 2016-17.
Skinner was a -27 last season which is awful but that is part of the reason Carolina traded him. He is not a two way player. Skinner is a goal scorer, plain and simple.
The move to Buffalo enhances Skinner’s value both in reality and fantasy. He is going to play with better players who can distribute the puck and get it on his stick on a more consistent basis. Playing with a skilled playmaker like Jack Eichel enhances Skinner’s fantasy value.
Skinner’s consensus ADP as a left winger going into last season was 14. He will experience a bump with the move to Buffalo. Expect Skinner to be the 10th to 12th left winger taken.
The trade to Buffalo makes Skinner a attractive middle round option in ten team leagues. He will go higher in 12 team leagues as a result of this trade.