Veteran forward Jeff Skinner’s time in San Jose will be coming to an end soon. News broke on Monday that the San Jose Sharks will be cutting ties by placing Skinner on waivers for a specific reason.
Jeff Skinner on Waivers for the Purpose of Contract Termination
Insider Frank Seravalli first reported that the Sharks have placed Skinner on waivers for the purpose of terminating his contract. Skinner and the Sharks will have to wait until 3 p.m. EST on Tuesday to make the move official.
#sjsharks have placed F Jeff Skinner on unconditional waivers for purposes of mutual contract termination.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) February 16, 2026
At that point, Skinner will become an unrestricted free agent (UFA) and will be free to sign with whatever team he chooses. The move comes at an interesting time because the post-Olympic period will feature teams looking for depth pieces. That’s what Skinner could be for numerous contenders looking for cheap depth options.
By placing Skinner on waivers, the Sharks have essentially made the veteran forward free for whichever team moves to sign him. The cost will be Skinner’s next contract, pro-rated for the remaining time in the season.
The 33-year-old has six goals and 13 points in 32 games this season. He signed a one-year, $3 million deal during the offseason with San Jose. Unfortunately, things just haven’t gone all that well for both parties this season.
Skinner Looking for One Last Shot
After a tough season in Edmonton last year, the hope was that Skinner could revive his scoring touch in San Jose. However, the thriving young team didn’t really have much room for him. While the Sharks could have traded him, they opted to place Skinner on waivers instead.
The former first-round pick had a full no-trade clause through January 30. However, that clause has now shifted to an eight-team list. There’s really no telling what, if anything, the Sharks could have gotten by trading Skinner. That’s why terminating his contract was the best outcome for all sides.
If the Sharks had tried to trade Skinner, other clubs could have pushed for San Jose to retain salary. By placing Skinner on waivers, the Sharks don’t retain anything, nor do they pay the remainder of his salary.
Skinner won’t be a free agent for long. The list of contenders looking to add depth is significant. So, there’s a good chance Skinner will land one last shot somewhere this season. If he thrives with his new team, it could mean one more contract in the offseason.
Main photo by: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images