JUST IN:Goal Scorer Turns Down Maple Leafs to Join Oilers.One of the most highly pursued free agents going…
One of the most highly pursued free agents going into July was bought out by the Buffalo Sabres just before July 1 and decided to sign with the Edmonton Oilers when free agency began.
Jeff Skinner was waived by the Sabres and chose to sign a one-year, $3 million deal with the Oilers rather than joining his hometown team, the Toronto Maple Leafs.
According to NHL insider Chris Johnston, Skinner bypassed the Leafs to join the Edmonton Oilers, who are Stanley Cup finalists. Toronto was in the running to sign the recently bought-out forward, but the Oilers secured his signing first.
“He’s going to Edmonton clearly to win. He could have signed a one-year, $3 million deal with about ten different teams,” Johnston said on the July 2 episode of The Chris Johnston Show. “I know the Leafs were one of the teams that talked to him and pitched the idea of playing alongside Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner.”
Skinner had signed an eight-year, $72 million contract with the Sabres in June 2019, but Buffalo bought him out before the 2024-25 season. Following the buyout, Skinner entered free agency and signed with the team of his choice.
