Combination of ideas

Does a Buffalo need cap space that badly?

Jeff Skinner will not waive his full non move clause to go to Chicago. Just won’t happen

Not this year, probably. The Sabres have a pretty decent top 6 without him, plus the Sabres bottom 6 could use some work- like adding a few defensively responsible gritty players, Skinner doesn't even pretend to play defense. I suppose you could put him on a checking line and have him try to create offense by himself, but that's about it. Assuming he absolutely refuses to waive, the Sabres likely keep him for one more year, then buy him out. Next summer there's good young players that are gonna be due some good size raises, and having him stay one more year would shave a couple years off the buy out.

We don't need the space. Skinner wouldn't waive for the west.

We could just retain 3.5 to 4.5 million for 3 years and get an asset

Could just move him in Kevin Hayes like deal…he still has value at reduced cap.