Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman unveils a failed trade in the Eastern Conference

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Chris Gerics
September 21, 2024 (2:05 PM)

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NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman recently revealed on his '32 Thoughts' podcast that the Atlantic Division could have been shaken up by a big trade involving Buffalo Sabres forward Peyton Krebs.

The Buffalo Sabres haven't necessarily had the most successful seasons in recent memory, with their last playoff run coming nearly 15 years ago. It's been a tumultuous run for the team who has dealt with a decade of injuries, disappointments, and failed signings and they don't seem like they have a lot of direction at times. They made a good start by locking up Peyton Krebs to a 2-year deal and while the forward will have the next couple of seasons to raise his standing amongst players, he could have been somewhere else come October.

According to Elliotte Friedman on his '32 Thoughts' podcast, Krebs may have been destined for another team had they not gotten the deal done. It seems that Krebs also didn't want to be shipped off, and possibly be labelled as difficult.

"Peyton Krebs took the two years as you mentioned in Buffalo, this is a huge year for him. I think the Sabres took a really, really hard line in this negotiation in the sense of 'we're starting here and not moving too much'. This is a big year for Krebs."

Krebs hasn't been the stud the Sabres hoped for when they traded Jack Eichel to Vegas as he's only put up 20 goals and 45 points in 215 games for a lowly Sabres club that he could have shined for at certain times. He's far removed from his WHL days where he averaged 15 goals and 41 assists for Kootenay and Winnipeg, and he hasn't shown that elite playmaking vision that he was known for. His one positive was when he had 10 assists for the Rochester Americans during their playoff run, nearly eclipsing his entire season's output. If Buffalo can get Krebs to play like he did for the Americans, and finally lean into his stride and perhaps find chemistry with young talents Nicolas Aube-Kubel and Beck Malenstyn, the Sabres could be looking at a a dynamic line in a few years.

I think it's a low-risk signing for the Sabres, given that they really have nothing to lose at this point. Him being traded for something else really won't solve their issues. Their futility has been known for a decade and it's been so long removed from the days of Ryan Miller, Daniel Briere and Jason Pominville that it feels like those teams were from 20-30 years ago. They may be cursed, and it may be Brett Hull's fault for their misery but there is still time to turn it around; if they want to that is. The Pegula's have never been one to really spend properly for the Sabres, and it's unfortunate because they have such a strong fanbase.

All in all, Krebs is better off in Buffalo and not elsewhere, not because he may be lost in the shuffle elsewhere but he has the chance to cement his own legacy in a city that is desperate for a crumb of success.