"The nice part about it was it happened a little bit later in the summer," Skinner said. "For me, you're just sort of ramping up your training and skating a little bit more and I think that sort of makes it a little easier to curb the excitement going into the year."
Skinner has good reason to be excited. This fall will mark his first training camp away from Carolina, where he spent the first eight seasons of his career. Despite crossing the 30-goal threshold three times in that span - including a career-high 37 goals in 2016-17 - he said both sides felt it was time for a change.
"That's sort of how that trade manifested itself and even the rumors leading up to it," he said. "I think that's the way it goes sometimes in this business, as in life, sort of in any aspect. You get two sides who have been on the same team for a long time and sometimes a fresh start is needed for both sides.
"I'm excited for the fresh start now. Being a Sabre now, I'm pumped to get going and looking forward to getting started."
The Sabres are counting on Skinner to provide a boost to their even-strength scoring, potentially on a line with Jack Eichel. Wednesday marked Skinner's first chance since the trade to share the ice with Eichel, and he smiled at the proposition of a full season as teammates.
"He's a pretty good player," Skinner said. "Obviously, I've seen him quite a bit from an opposing team point of view. I think it's going to be a lot nicer to be on his team. He's obviously an exciting player and I'm happy he's on our side."
Skinner also grinned while discussing Sabres forward Kyle Okposo, with whom he shares a trainer. The two have crossed paths for years at various camps and formed a relationship as a result, and Skinner said he plans to utilize Okposo as a guy he can go to for tips.
"It's nice when you come to a team and you know somebody and sort of have a little bit of a relationship and your friends," he said. "That's always a bit of a comforting feeling when you're making a transition to a new team. That part's good."
The fact that he's not the only new face on the ice should help ease the transition as well. Skinner was one of seven offseason acquisitions made by the Sabres, a group that also includes forwards Patrik Berglund, Conor Sheary, Vladimir Sobotka and Tage Thompson as well as defenseman Matt Hunwick and goalie Carter Hutton.
Several of those players were on the ice Wednesday, and Skinner could already feel the excitement.
"There's been a lot of moves this summer and I think guys are excited about the guys that are brought in and also that core group that's been here and is continuing to improve and build," he said. "I'm excited to come in and just be a piece to the puzzle, get to know everyone and get the season started."
