Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Sabres have avoided salary arbitration with forward Peyton Krebs, inking him to a four-year contract worth $18 million, counting $4.5 million against the salary cap per-year. Krebs was the final restricted free agent remaining for the Sabres this offseason.
The 25-year-old set career highs in goals (12), assists (27) and points (39) in 82 games played last season. He also added six points (2+4) in 13 playoff games.
Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff plugged Krebs in wherever he was needed, which included significant time with Tage Thompson on the top line. You could see Krebs' confidence flourish, and he did well in that roll.
Many felt Krebs was set to come in at around $3.5-to-$4 million per-year, but the Nashville Predators acquired Jack Drury from the Colorado Avalanche on June 24 and gave him a five-year contract valued at $4.5 million per-season. Drury also set career highs in goals (10) and points (27). Drury is one year older than Krebs, so in that context, the Krebs contract looks like a good deal.
The Krebs deal now leaves the Sabres with around $4.2 million to play with this offseason.
Buffalo now has five forward lines, seven defensemen and three goaltenders for a 23-man roster. That means two players will either be sent to the Rochester Americans or traded before the start of the regular season. I'm including Noah Ostlund and Konsta Helenius in there.
If general manager Jarmo Kekalainen sends them down because he wouldn't have to waive them, he'd be at the 23-man limit.
