'I still feel I’m an impact player': Sabres' Jeff Skinner eyes a bounce-back season By Lance Lysowski News Sports Reporter Sep 29, 2021 Sep 29, 2021 Updated Feb 17, 2026 0 Sabres' Jeff Skinner skates with the puck during training camp at LECOM Harborcenter. Mark Mulville/Buffalo News Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save By Lance Lysowski News Sports Reporter In March 2019, before the $72 million contract and three consecutive healthy scratches, Jeff Skinner was asked repeatedly why he wasn’t scoring goals.kAm$<:??6C H2D @?6 @7 E96 76H 3C:89E DA@ED @? E96 $23C6D E92E D62D@?[ 2 c_\8@2= D4@C6C @? 2 fe\A@:?E E62> E92E 4C2E6C65 2?5 4@DE 4@249 !9:= w@FD=6J 9:D ;@3] $<:??6C’D 8@2= 5C@F89E :? E96 7:?2= H66<D =2DE65 `b 82>6D 2?5 96 D4@C65 ;FDE @?46 :? aa 82>6D]k^AmkAmxE A2=65 :? 4@>A2C:D@? 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E96 @FED:56 92G6 4@F?E65 $<:??6C @FE[ 96’D 56E6C>:?65 E@ DF44665 282:?]k^Am kAm“tG6CJ A=2J6C H2?ED E@ 96=A E96 E62> 2D >F49 2D J@F 42? 2?5 x’> ?@E 5:776C6?E :? E92E H2J[” $<:??6C D2:5] “x E9:?< x 42? :>A24E E96 82>6 E92E H2J[ 2?5 9@A67F==J x 42? 4@?E:?F6 E@ 5@ E92E E9:D J62C]”k^Am 0 Comments Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Sabres game day: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will go the route in goal vs. Red Wings The Sabres called an audible with their goalie plan to get a longer look at UPL. Sabres Notebook: After a wild year in Preds organization, WNYer Sean Malone is back There are all kinds of pandemic-season tales in the hockey world. 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Sabres game day: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will go the route in goal vs. Red Wings The Sabres called an audible with their goalie plan to get a longer look at UPL.
Sabres Notebook: After a wild year in Preds organization, WNYer Sean Malone is back There are all kinds of pandemic-season tales in the hockey world. Sean Malone, the West Seneca native and Nichols School product who returned …
Observations: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has ups, downs in Sabres' loss Playing behind a struggling Sabres team inside Little Caesars Arena, Luuukkonen allowed five goals on 31 shots in a 6-2 loss that illustrated …
Mike Harrington: Summer signee Vinnie Hinostroza looks for his niche with Sabres Vinnie Hinostroza might be the most interesting NHL journeyman who has been brought in to the Buffalo Sabres this season. We've seen him speed…
Sabres game day: Lots of familiar names make their preseason debuts in first home game For the first time since back-to-back wins by Michael Houser over the New York Islanders in May, the Buffalo Sabres will be on the ice in KeyB…