Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The National Hockey League Players' Association announced Sunday that Buffalo Sabres forward Peyton Krebs is among 15 total NHL players to file for salary arbitration.
The hearings will be set up between July 20 and Aug. 1.
Krebs is a restricted free agent this offseason, and is coming off a two-year contract he signed with the Sabres that was worth $2.9 million.
Acquired as part of the Jack Eichel trade with the Vegas Golden Knights in November of 2021, Krebs is coming off a career-year with the Sabres in which he played in all 82 games and spent time playing on all four lines. Along the way, he scored 12 goals and 27 assists for 39 points - all career-best marks. He also added six points (2+4) in 13 playoff games for Buffalo.
The 25-year-old was never given a chance to play regularly with the Sabres' top offensive players until this past season when he was with Tage Thompson a lot, and either Alex Tuch or Josh Doan were on the wing. Being given that opportunity seemed to up his confidence.
"When you're playing more and getting opportunities with guys like 'Tommer' and 'Tuchy' and 'Doaner', it's a lot of fun," said Krebs during his end-of-season press conference back on May 20.
"For me, I just continue to try to work hard every day. So what I can to help the team win and the results take care of itself, I just continue to try to believe in myself. The NHL can be a rollercoaster, and to play with those guys, it elevates you. And to play against the guys we're playing, it can give you confidence. I think I did that throughout the year."
In his first season in Buffalo, Krebs said Western New York is the kind of community he wants to bring up his kids. He wants them to have grass to play in when they come out of the house. He hasn't changed his mind, now that he's married and is a father.
"I've been here for my fifth year now, my daughter was born here, I got engaged here. This is definitely a home for my family, and I'd love to be a part of this team as long as I can," Krebs reiterated.
"The group of guys here are unbelievable and fun to be around, and that's the biggest thing: Is it a fun environment to come to the rink? It is, for sure.
Krebs says he's also gotten to know his neighbors and others in the Town of Clarence, where he lives, and he wants to win a Stanley Cup in Western New York.
When speaking with the media on July 1, Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said Krebs is an important part of this team, and he's confident they'll find common ground.
"Some negotiations take a little less time, and some negotiations take a little more time," Kekalainen said. "He's got the arbitration rights, so the process goes that both sides are evaluating where the award might come in. Usually it's in-between those two levels, sometimes both sides just want to get a deal done understanding that's the range, and sometimes it takes a little longer.
"He's a really important piece for us. It's just part of the business, and sometimes it takes a little longer."
Krebs has gotten better every season, and seemed to have more confidence in his own play. In five seasons with the Sabres, the first-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft has played 378 games, including playoffs, scoring 44 goals and 94 assists for 138 points.
According to the NHLPA, the other players that filed for arbitration were:
- Xavier Bourgault (Ottawa Senators)
- Kirby Dach (Montreal Canadiens)
- Jamie Drysdale (Philadelphia Flyers)
- Jet Greaves, (Columbus Blue Jackets)
- Alex Jefferies (New York Islanders)
- Connor McMichael (St. Louis Blues)
- Cole Perfetti (Winnipeg Jets)
- Jason Robertson (Dallas Stars)
- Nick Robertson (Pittsburgh Penguins)
- Akira Schmid (Florida Panthers)
- Braden Schneider (New York Rangers)
- Ronan Seeley (Carolina Hurricanes)
- Cole Sillinger (Columbus Blue Jackets)
- Trevor Zegras (Philadelphia Flyers)
The forward is coming off a career-year in Buffalo with 12 goals and 27 assists
The forward is coming off a career-year in Buffalo with 12 goals and 27 assists
