Top 4 trade destinations for Jeff Skinner revealed

So far, the Jeff Skinner experiment hasn't panned out in Oil Country.

When Jeff Jackson acquired Jeff Skinner during the NHL off season, fans were absolutely thrilled.

Initially, the expectations for Skinner were a 40+ goal season and a solidified role on the Oilers top 6.

Fast forward to 2025, Jeff Skinner has been healthy scratched 3 times and finds himself relegated to the 4th line, playing a diminished role on the team.

While it's important to emphasize that Jeff Skinner has a full NTC (no trade clause) in his contract, but he can choose to waive it if he wishes.

According to the Hockey News, Skinner has been a poor fit with Edmonton, but that doesn't mean he's no longer an intriguing potential asset for other NHL teams who want to play him more often. To that end, here are four teams that could make a play for Skinner on the trade front:

Buffalo Sabres
Last summer, the Sabres bought out Skinner's contract, which carried a $9-million cap hit. But Buffalo is last in the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference.

Columbus Blue Jackets
The Blue Jackets are in the thick of the hunt for a wild-card spot, and Columbus could use another veteran to bulk up its group of forwards.

St. Louis Blues
The Blues also have their sights set on earning a playoff spot, but they only have 2.82 goals-for per game.

Utah Hockey Club
The Utah Hockey Club is the NHL's eighth-worst team on offense at 2.79 goals-for per game. They're also fighting for a wild-card playoff berth in the Western Conference.