It’s official: a proven scorer is now available, and Brad Treliving has a decision to make

On Monday, the San Jose Sharks decided to waive veteran forward Jeff Skinner for the purposes of contract termination as they were looking to move on from him and give him a chance at a bigger role and more playing time for the rest of the season.

Well, he was able to be claimed though that time has passed and now Skinner is officially a free agent:

Now that Skinner is a free agent, any club is able to sign him and will likely look to do so at a much cheaper rate than the $3-million he previously signed for.

Skinner, 33, had 13 points in 32 games for the Sharks this season but hasn't played since January 11th and it was clear that San Jose was looking to cut ties with the veteran.

For a team like the Toronto Maple Leafs, they need to take a serious look at Skinner as they could look to add a proven scorer especially with the potential of losing Bobby McMann.

While Skinner may not be the 40-goal phenom he was earlier in his career, he does have 40 goals his two seasons prior, and is one of the more underrated and under appreciated goal-scorers of the last decade and a half.

In 1,110 games he has 712 points (379 goals, 333 assists) to go along with 168 power-play points, and is one of the more disciplined players in recent memory -- a huge boost to an often penalized Toronto team.

Now that he is a little more cost effective, the team can bring him in while also affording a loss of McMann, or even keeping him, the loss of Calle Jarnkrok and potentially Scott Laughton. The team needs cheap bodies a la Troy Stecher and Skinner fits the bill.

With the team having just a shade over $1-million to work with, if they get Skinner on league minimum or even $1-million for the rest of the year, it's a cheap audition for a player who doesn't need any long-term commitment.

For now, we will need to wait and see if the Maple Leafs can afford the deal; they have an active roster spot and have room for a contract. It's just a matter of whether or not Skinner wants to take a pay cut to play in his hometown.

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