BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) \u2014 One of the Buffalo Sabres’ most versatile players has inked a new four-year extension. On Monday, Peyton Krebs agreed to an extension with the Sabres worth $4.5 million per season.<\/p>\n
The 25-year-old forward is coming off his best season in the NHL, tallying 39 points (12 goals, 17 assists) in 82 games played. In the playoffs, Krebs had six points in 13 games. He played in every game the Buffalo Sabres played last season.<\/p>\n
Krebs was a restricted free agent and had filed for salary arbitration, with his hearing reportedly scheduled for August 1. This extension avoids the hearing and keeps Krebs in Buffalo for four more seasons.<\/p>\n
Bove\u2019s Take:<\/p>\n
$4.5 million isn\u2019t what it used to be in the NHL. This is a totally fair number for both sides. Since the deal was announced, I\u2019ve seen some people suggest that it\u2019s an overpay, and I don\u2019t agree.<\/p>\n
I like to look at the percentage of the salary cap the contract accounts for. A $4.5 million deal with a $104 million cap is about 4.3 percent. That’s the same as a $3.5 million deal in 2021-2022 (the year the Sabres acquired Krebs). <\/p>\n
Krebs isn\u2019t going to be a guy who scores a ton of goals, but he can play almost anywhere in the lineup, and that\u2019s valuable. In a perfect world for the Sabres, he\u2019s a fourth-line player who is responsible at both ends of the ice. But when will the Sabres’ entire roster actually be healthy? Krebs is the guy who can replace a first-line winger, a second- or third-line center, or be the driving force on the Sabres’ fourth line. He\u2019s the Sabres’ Swiss-Army knife.<\/p>\n
For a player who is still ascending and is only 25, this feels like a safe bet in a rising salary cap era. With Krebs, you know what you\u2019re going to get, and that\u2019s worth $4.5 million per season.<\/p>\n
Peyton Krebs signing for $4.5M is not an overpay. He\u2019s 25 and coming off his best season (12G, 27A, 39P). It\u2019s a perfectly fine number for a guy who can play all over the lineup. The thing becomes interesting is where they go from here, because they simply have too many guys.<\/p>\n