Sabres' Skinner Not 'Learning' Anything By Not Playing

Buffalo Sabres head coach Ralph Krueger decided he had seen enough struggling from forward Jeff Skinner and wanted to give his player a chance to hit the reset button. Krueger decided after 14 games and no goals and only one assist it was time for Skinner to be scratched so he could sit up in the press box for a game or three and learn from a bird's eye view. Turns out Skinner doesn't feel it's working.

The 28-year-old spoke after being scratched for the third consecutive game on Thursday night and had this to say about not suiting up:

I don't think you learn anything extra by not being out there, but, obviously, this situation is maybe not that straightforward in the fact that 'lessons being learned' is maybe more of a vague concept. I try and help the team win as much as I can. That's my main focus. Obviously, the coach is trying to do that, too. ... He has 23 other guys to worry about. He has a team to coach. I just have to play hockey. I love being a Sabre. I love the city of Buffalo. I wouldn't have chosen to stay here if that wasn't (the) case, so that answer is simple.

The good news for Sabres fans is that Skinner wants to be in Buffalo, the bad news is he's making $9 million for the next six years and hasn't really produced since signing the massive contract. Let's hope for everyone involved he can get back in there and get a cheap goal off his skate or something in his first game back. 

Photo credit: : John Crouch/Icon Sportswire