Oilers to sign Jeff Skinner to one-year contract

Buffalo Sabres left wing Jeff Skinner

It’s a cross-continent move for Jeff Skinner.

The Edmonton Oilers are signing the forward to a one-year contract worth $3 million, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.

Skinner was a free agent after his contract was bought out by the Buffalo Sabres.

Skinner, a five-time 30-goal scorer and one-time 40-scorer, provided some decent offence for the Sabres during his six-year tenure. However, his eight-year, $9 million cap hit proved too costly for the Sabres, thus contributing to his buy-out.

The 32-year-old will likely help to bolster secondary scoring under Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, and is just one season removed from a point-per-game campaign.

Last season, the Markham, Ont., native put up 46 points (24 goals, 22 points) in 74 games.

Skinner was selected seventh overall by the Carolina Hurricanes at the 2010 NHL Draft and played eight seasons there before he was traded to Buffalo in the 2018 off-season.