The writing is officially on the wall in the Bay Area. According to the latest reports from San Jose Sharks insider Josh Frojelin, veteran winger Jeff Skinner has found himself as the odd man out in San Jose. Despite signing a one-year, $3 million deal just last summer to provide veteran stability, the 33-year-old has been a healthy scratch for weeks.
Why is this happening now? It isn’t just about Skinner’s production—though six goals and 13 points in 32 games isn’t turning heads—it’s about a sudden surplus of talent. The Sharks are dealing with a massive logjam on the wings. With Philipp Kurashev and Kiefer Sherwood returning from injury, and the organization prioritizing the development of younger assets, Skinner’s spot in the lineup has evaporated. The Sharks are prioritizing the future, and right now, Skinner is part of the past.
The Numbers Game: Why Skinner is Suddenly Expendable
In my years analyzing roster management in the NHL, you rarely see a team push out a recognized veteran scorer this aggressively unless two things are happening: the team is fully committed to a “play the kids” mentality, or a trade is imminent. For San Jose, it feels like a mix of both.
The Sharks brought Skinner in to be a buffer—a guy to eat minutes while the prospects developed. But the timeline accelerated. The play of sophomore wingers Will Smith and Colin Graf has been nothing short of impressive. When you combine their ascent with the addition of youngsters like Igor Chernyshov, the Sharks simply don’t need Skinner to shelter the youth anymore. The kids aren’t just ready; they are taking the jobs.
Even with veterans like Adam Gaudette and Ryan Reaves sitting out, there simply isn’t enough ice time to go around.
The Contract Complexity and The January 30 Deadline
Here is where the situation gets interesting for fantasy owners and trade fanatics. Skinner holds the cards—at least for a few more days. He possesses a full no-trade clause (NTC) that runs through January 30.
This date is critical. Until then, Skinner decides his fate. However, once the calendar flips to January 31, that protection downgrades to an eight-team no-trade list. This opens a significant window between Feb 1 and the March 6 trade deadline for General Manager Mike Grier to make a move.
My Personal Insight: I believe Skinner still has value, but not in San Jose. A contending team looking for secondary scoring on a manageable $3 million cap hit (potentially retained down to $1.5M) will take a flyer on him. He’s a streaky scorer, but put him on a line with a playmaker on a playoff team, and he can still pot big goals. The Sharks have done well to rehabilitate his value somewhat, but holding onto him past the deadline makes zero sense for a team that needs to clear runway for Smith and Graf. Expect Skinner to be wearing a new jersey by early March.
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The post Is This The End? Why The Sharks Are Moving On From Jeff Skinner appeared first on NHL Trade Rumors.
