Buffalo Sabres’ Jeff Skinner exits game with upper-body injury

Buffalo Sabres forward Jeff Skinner left Wednesday night’s 5-1 loss against the Colorado Avalanche with an upper-body injury.

Skinner was hit hard by Avs’ forward Nathan MacKinnon. Skinner left the ice and went to the locker room immediately. He returned to the bench and took a shift on the powerplay before heading back down the tunnel and would not return.

The 31-year-old has tallied 12 goals and 10 assists for 22 points in 30 games this season while averaging 18:06 minutes of ice time.

Last season, the Markham, Ontario native notched a career-high 47 assists and 82 points in 78 games. Skinner was acquired by the Sabres from the Carolina Hurricanes in 2018 in exchange for Cliff Pu and a slew of draft picks. Skinner went on to score 40 goals that season and earned himself a big pay raise. He is currently in year five of an eight-year, $72,000,000 million extension he signed in 2019. The contract has an average annual value (AAV) of $9,000,000.

Skinner was initially selected No. 7 overall by Carolina in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. He played major junior hockey for the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and in his draft year, dominated the league with 50 goals and 90 points in 64 games while adding 20 goals and 33 points in 20 OHL Playoff contests. He made his NHL debut in 2010-2011 and captured the Calder Trophy as the NHL Rookie of the Year after scoring 63 points in 82 games.

Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams or coach Don Granato should have an update on Skinner’s status in the coming days. The Sabres face off against the reigning Stanley Cup champions, Vegas Golden Knights on Friday and then take on the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday.