Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) – The National Hockey League Players Association announced on Sunday that Sabres forward Peyton Krebs along with 14 other NHL players have filed for Salary Arbitration. The hearings will be setup between July 20 and Aug. 1.

Krebs is a restricted free agent and is coming off a two-year contract that was worth $2.9 million.

Krebs was acquired as part of the Jack Eichel trade in November of 2021. Last season he played on all four lines and in all 82 games scoring 12 goals and 27 assists for 39 points, all career highs. He also added six points in 13 playoff games. He 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. 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.

“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 and 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 and I think I did that throughout the year.”

In his first season here, Krebs said Western New York is the kind of community where 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 and this is definitely a home for my family and I and I’d love to be a part of this team as long as I can.

“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 and it is for sure.”

“I’ve got to know my neighbors really well and all the people out in Clarence where I live and it’s definitely something I’m looking forward to and want to win a Stanley Cup here.”

On July 1, 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 and he’s got the arbitration rights, so the process goes that both sides are evaluating where the award might come in and usually it’s in between those two levels and sometimes both sides just want to get a deal done understanding that’s the range and sometimes it takes a little longer.”

Kekalainen again stressed Krebs importance,

“Absolutely, 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 former Vegas Golden Knights first-round pick played 378 games including playoffs scoring 44 goals and 94 assists for 138 points.

According to the NHLPA the others that filed for arbitration were:

Bourgault, Xavier (Ottawa Senators)

Dach, Kirby (Montreal Canadiens)

Drysdale, Jamie (Philadelphia Flyers)

Greaves, Jet (Columbus Blue Jackets)

Jefferies, Alex (New York Islanders)

McMichael, Connor (St. Louis Blues)

Perfetti, Cole (Winnipeg Jets)

Robertson, Jason (Dallas Stars)

Robertson, Nick (Pittsburgh Penguins)

Schmid, Akira (Florida Panthers)

Schneider, Braden (New York Rangers)

Seeley, Ronan (Carolina Hurricanes)

Sillinger, Cole (Columbus Blue Jackets)

Zegras, Trevor (Philadelphia Flyers)