Peyton Krebs put pen to paper on a two-year deal to remain a Buffalo Sabre last week.
The 23-year-old Okotokian signed a two-year contract with the NHL club that pays an average annual value of $1.45 million on Sept. 17, the eve of training camp in New York.
“It just came down to the wire,” Krebs told Buffalo media at Sabres training camp. “I think I decided with the team we have here, I want to be a part of this. I just want to focus on winning.
“That’s the biggest thing. I kind of harped on getting that two years with my agent.”
Krebs, who was a restricted free agent before signing, registered four goals and 17 points with the Sabres in 80 games in 2023-24. He’s posted 65 points over parts of three seasons in Buffalo after being acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights in the Jack Eichel trade.
“It’s a good number for him as a young player that’s played a couple hundred games in the league already,” Sabres GM Kevyn Adams told Buffalo media last week. “I think for us, what I like is it gives him the time now to continue to develop into figuring out exactly where he slots in our lineup.”
KREBSY‼️
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) September 17, 2024
We have signed forward Peyton Krebs to a two-year deal with an AAV of $1.45 million.
Details → https://t.co/OzCbTlz5m0 pic.twitter.com/afB4eHJvki
Krebs, Vegas’ first-round draft pick in 2019, is part of a young Buffalo team in search of its first playoff berth since 2011. Longtime bench boss Lindy Ruff has returned as Sabres head coach head of the 2024-25 campaign.
It’s been a big summer on and off the ice for Krebs.
He and his wife Erica welcomed baby girl Kimberly into the world last month.
The Sabres are in the midst of preseason and open the NHL regular season with the Global Series in Czechia, a two-game set versus the New Jersey Devils on Oct. 4-5.
The Sabres make their only trip of the season to Calgary to battle the Flames on Jan. 23, 2025.
For more information, go to buffalosabres.com.