LOL at the idea Skinner’s low numbers are because of some recent tough love by an obstinate coach.
Skinner scored 28 goals in his first 41 games in Buffalo, playing 18 minutes a night under Phil Housley, mostly with Eichel and Reinhart. For some reason that’s all people seem to remember.
They forget that his sucking already started before Krueger got there - just 12 goals in his second 41 despite still mostly getting 18 minutes with Jack and Sam.
They forget that he scored 7 in his first month with Krueger playing 18 minutes a night mostly with Sobotka and Johansson.
They forget that he still kept getting 18 minutes a night despite only scoring 4 times in his next 26 games, including 11 goalless games in a row before getting hurt.
They forget that his ice time didn’t start to dwindle until he stretched that goalless streak to 22 games, and that he only ended up scoring three more goals the rest of the season, despite getting some time with Sam and Jack again.
They forget he was with Staal and Reinhart to start training camp, and with Eichel and Reinhart for the last couple games before his benching, and that he’s been getting 2nd unit PP time all season.
What people don’t seem to grasp is that Jeff Skinner is has 1 secondary assist all season and just 7 points in his past 46 games. Or that he has just 26 goals in his past 114 games and that includes plenty of prime ice time with prime players.
He’s not stopped producing because of his usage, he’s stopped being used because he hasn’t produced for a long, long time.