The Buffalo Sabres announced Tuesday they agreed to terms with Peyton Krebs on a two-year extension that will pay the forward an average annual value of $1.45 million.
The 23-year-old Krebs was the Sabres’ last remaining restricted free agent. Last season, Krebs had four goals and 13 assists for 17 points and 67 penalty minutes in 80 games.
“I love coming to the rink every day,” Krebs said in a team statement. “I Love Buffalo, the city. I’m gonna have my first kid here … Buffalo is home and it’s exciting.”
Originally taken No. 17 overall by the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Krebs has played 215 regular-season games between them and the Sabres, scoring 20 goals and 46 assists for 66 points and 139 penalty minutes.
His best NHL season production-wise was in 2022-23 when in 74 games with the Sabres, Krebs scored nine goals and 17 assists for 26 points and 50 penalty minutes.
“I think we’re still gonna see him improve and we’re gonna see him grow as a player,” Sabres’ General Manager Kevyn Adams said in April. “I like his competitiveness, I like his character, and I like now his mature mindset of different ways to succeed in this league, not just his offensive side.”
Krebs was part of a massive trade that saw him, Alex Tuch, a 2022 first-round pick and a 2023 second-round pick go to the Sabres in exchange for Jack Eichel and a 2023 third-round pick.
Before turning pro, Krebs played parts of five seasons in the Western Hockey League with the Kootenay Ice, remaining with the club when they relocated to Winnipeg. In his draft season in 2018-19, he scored 19 goals and 49 assists for 68 points in 64 games.
Last season, the Sabres finished with a 39-37-6 record and 84 points, sixth in the Atlantic Division and seven points out of the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.
