On Tuesday the Buffalo Sabres re-signed Peyton Krebs to a two-year contract worth $2.9 million. The forward had been holding out the entire offseason after he rejected his June qualifying offer and became a restricted free agent (RFA).
The signing ends months of rampant speculation on Krebs’ future, as many assumed the two parties were destined to part ways even after he openly stated that he wanted to stay in Buffalo. However, letting him walk would have been a mistake, and the Sabres were wise to make a deal before the start of the regular season, giving them greater chances of success.
Krebs Has Been Criminally Underutilized
Since coming to Buffalo in 2021- the centerpiece of the Jack Eichel blockbuster deal – Krebs has had a curious existence with the Sabres. His continued presence would suggest that the team has big plans for him. However, how he’s actually been used gives the exact opposite impression.
Krebs has it all when it comes to skill. Though not exceptionally imposing, his speed, stick-handling, instincts, and work ethic made him a force in junior, and he was drafted 17th overall by the Vegas Golden Knights in 2019. His 2021 season in the Western Hockey League was a sight to behold, as he led the league in scoring with 43 points in 24 games and was named Player of the Year. It was easy to see why the Sabres wanted him as part of the return for Eichel, but they’ve since forgotten that.
Krebs’ run in Buffalo hasn’t been all that spectacular to this point, and though he blames himself for that, it isn’t his fault. When the Sabres called him up during the 2021-22 season due to a rash of injuries, he was 20 years old and had just 25 total games of minor-league experience to his name. In spite of that, he rose to the occasion and turned in a solid rookie season with seven goals and 22 points in 48 games, showing that his potential hadn’t been lost in translation.
After that, the script was flipped on him. He struggled in his sophomore campaign (as one could easily expect from a 21-year-old), and head coach Don Granato sent him down the lineup. The move proved to be the right one, as veteran workhorses Kyle Okposo and Zemgus Girgensons helped shield him and taught him a more responsible, hardnosed style that made him a much better all-around player. However, Granato seemed to completely forget about him afterward and left him in that…
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