Louis Crevier’s last couple of days have packed in just about everything at once: a contract extension, a first game with a new team and, before that, the kind of surreal career path that makes his story stand out.
The 25-year-old defenseman signed a four-year extension Thursday with an average annual value of $4 million, then spent Friday looking ahead to another milestone - Saturday’s home opener against the Chicago Blackhawks, the team that drafted him in the seventh round in 2020.
“I think it was a little bit overwhelming at some points,” Crevier admitted. “It was a lot of stuff happening in my mind. … But overall, I’m really excited.”
That reaction fits a player whose road to this point has been anything but straightforward. Crevier is a 6-foot-8 blue-liner from Quebec who was picked by Chicago in the delayed COVID draft, played in 118 AHL games and eventually earned a full-time NHL spot. Buffalo acquired him in a July deal, and now he’s part of a Sabres defense that gets a quick reunion with his old organization at KeyBank Center.
Crevier said the contract news was something he worked through with his family from the start.
“I was in talks with my family the whole time, because I think it is sort of family decision. I was asking their advice and whatnot. They were the first people, they knew a little bit before as well, so it wasn’t a big surprise.”
As for what he plans to do with the money first, he wasn’t exactly rushing to spend.
“I don't know. I'll have to think about this one.
Still got to be careful with money - I don't have it until next year. I’ve got to hold on a little bit.”
The Blackhawks game adds another layer to an already big week. Crevier said he expects emotions to be part of it, especially with Chicago being the team that brought him into the league.
“For sure. It’s going to be a first.
I've been there for a long time with the AHL, NHL groups, so it’s going to be fun. It’s going to be exciting with the home opener as well.
Just going to try to enjoy it as much as possible.”
He also looked back on draft day in 2020, when everything was different because of COVID and the process played out online. Crevier said the day dragged on, and by the time his name was called, the wait had worn him down.
“I remember it was a really long day. It was COVID, so it was online.
We had something set up at Chicoutimi (his QMJHL city) for the draft, but it took a long time. But in the end, I was super happy.
It was more relief than anything else at that point. Good memories, but it was hard at the same time.”
By the time the draft reached him, he said his confidence had dipped.
“Well, as the draft went on, I kind of lost a little bit of hope. That's what kind of made it a little bit more difficult for me. But in the end, I got drafted to a place where they wanted me and they gave me a chance, and I was super grateful.”
That experience is part of why he has a message for players taken late.
“Probably trying to bring something different from other players and just trusting the process. Don’t compare yourself too much against other people, because it's different journeys.
Of course, when you're in the seventh round, even though they say you're going to get the same chances, it's going to be harder to get them. But when they come, you’ve got to own it.”
Crevier’s size has always made him stand out, but he said being 6-foot-8 comes with everyday annoyances too.
“Of course. I don’t think the world is made for being more than 6-foot-5. Planes are a tough one sometimes.”
He grew up around golf in Quebec, with family ties to the game before hockey took over.
“I came from a golf family. My uncle played pretty high-level golf, so I had a golf club in my hands before a hockey stick.
I played some soccer a little bit. But I picked up hockey when I was six, and then just fell in love with it.”
Even now, he’s not exactly pretending golf is his best sport.
“I don’t know my handicap. I’ve lost track for a while. I think I’m a good scramble player, but playing a full game… Yeah, I would struggle a little bit.”
Crevier also spoke about his year under Patrick Roy in the QMJHL, describing a coach who left an impression for the right reasons.
“I don’t have a lot of stories, but I always remember him being super open to the players, to the staff. I really liked him as a coach.
If someone could have a big head, it’d be him, but he was really down to earth. He’s always talking about playing with swagger, that’s one thing I liked about him.”
Then came the lighter stuff. Pasta.
Coffee. Succession.
Oasis. Chess.
Italy. New Zealand.
Giraffes.
When asked his favorite food, he answered simply: “Pasta.”
He said he prefers coffee, listed Succession as his favorite TV show and chose “Don’t Look Back in Anger” by Oasis as his karaoke song of choice. If he had to pick a teammate to sing with, he said, “I don’t know - maybe (Matt) Grzelcyk? I know him a little bit better.”
As for hidden talents, he pointed to chess.
“I feel like I can beat a lot of people at chess. I don’t know if that’s a hidden talent.”
He called himself a night person, named Italy as his favorite place he’s traveled and said New Zealand is the dream destination. And if he had to pick an animal?
“Probably a giraffe.”
At that point, Alex Lyon walked by and laughed loudly.
“Yeah. A giraffe.”
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