The Sharks have made a bold move by placing Jeff Skinner on unconditional waivers, which could spark a fiery debate among hockey fans. This decision, reported by Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, has left many wondering about the future of the veteran winger. But here's where it gets controversial: is this a strategic move or a desperate attempt to shed a contract? Let's dive in and explore the details.
Skinner, who signed with the Sharks nearly two weeks into last summer's free agency period, has struggled to find his footing in San Jose. With only six goals and 13 points in 32 appearances, he's been relegated to the press box for 10 straight games heading into the Olympic break. The Sharks, facing a salary retention slot crunch, are now looking to part ways with the veteran winger. Skinner will become an unrestricted free agent tomorrow if no team claims his $3MM cap hit for the remainder of the season.
The timing of this move suggests that Skinner has tangible interest from at least one other NHL team. However, these teams weren't interested in acquiring him from the Sharks, even for future considerations, at his current cap hit. This raises the question: is the Sharks' decision to waive Skinner a strategic move to clear cap space or a desperate attempt to get rid of a contract?
The Sharks, currently at the 50-contract limit, have been concerned about this issue from the start of the year. With Vincent Iorio getting claimed off waivers by the Rangers last month, they've now cleared up a bit of cap space heading into the deadline. But more importantly, they've shed a contract, providing them with a bit more breathing room with two open slots heading into the deadline.
So, what does this mean for Skinner? He'll need to walk away from the remainder of his guaranteed $3MM salary for this season and sign on elsewhere for close to, if not at, the league minimum for the stretch run. With his postseason experience limited to just five games during the Oilers' run to last year's Stanley Cup Final, Skinner could be a valuable pickup for a playoff contender seeking a third-line boost with boatloads of NHL experience.
