The NHL free agency market grew remarkably thin after the initial rush of signings in the opening week. One of the more prominent names unsigned was former Buffalo Sabre Jeff Skinner, but the veteran winger found a home on Friday, signing a one-year, $3 million contract with the San Jose Sharks.  

The 33-year-old was bought out of the final three years of his eight-year, $72 million contract last June and quickly signed a one-year, $3 million deal with the Edmonton Oilers. Skinner was thought to be an option for the Oilers in their top-six playing alongside either Leon Draisaitl or Connor McDavid with another former Sabre Evander Kane expected out for the entire regular season.  

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The former 40-goal scorer was relegated mostly to a bottom-six role last season and scored 16 goals during the regular season and one goal in five games in his first Stanley Cup Playoff action. The Oilers did not show much interest in bringing back Skinner even after trading Kane to Vancouver Viktor Arvidsson to Boston, and losing Corey Perry and Connor Brown in free agency,    choosing instead to re-sign Trent Frederic and Kasperi Kapanen, and add Andrew Mangiapane and Curtis Lazar as UFA’s.

The Sharks are at best a longshot to make the playoffs and since July 1 have been more focused on adding veterans on short-term deals to get to the cap floor and establish a support structure around youngsters Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith. GM Mike Grier signed defenseman Dmitri Orlov to a two-year deal, John Klingberg to a one-year deal, and claimed Nick Leddy off of waivers from St. Louis, adding $14.5 million in salary. 

If Skinner has a productive season playing in the Sharks top-six, his contract will be easily movable at next season’s trade deadline. 

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