The Buffalo Sabres locked up Louis Crevier on Thursday, agreeing to a four-year contract extension with the defenseman before he has even played a regular-season game for the club.
Crevier’s deal carries a salary cap hit of $4 million annually. Buffalo brought him in this summer as part of the blockbuster trade with the Chicago Blackhawks that sent Bowen Byram to Chicago and the No. 4 overall pick in June’s NHL Draft to Buffalo.
The 25-year-old arrives with a rare frame and some real NHL mileage already on him. At six-foot-eight, Crevier broke into a full-time role last season in Chicago after getting his feet wet over 56 games across his first two professional seasons.
Drafted by the Blackhawks in the seventh round in 2020, Crevier put together a strong year despite tough circumstances around him. In 78 regular-season games, he produced 25 points on seven goals and 18 assists, finished minus-2, and averaged 17:08 of ice time per game while handling difficult minutes on a team that ended with a minus-62 goal differential.
Over his career, Crevier has 32 points in 134 games with a minus-24 rating and an average of 16:54 per game. He is projected to begin the season on Buffalo’s top pairing next to perennial Norris Trophy contender Rasmus Dahlin.
The Sabres still haven’t opened their season after two nights of NHL action, but that changes Thursday night. Buffalo is set to face the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena with puck drop scheduled for 7:00 PM EST.
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For Sabres fans, the appeal is not just upside, but evidence. Helenius has a track record of rising to the moment and handling pressure without looking overwhelmed, which is why his success in Finland and his growth in North America feel connected rather than accidental. The next question is how far that edge can take him once the expectations in Buffalo start to grow. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Prospects Already Have A Clear Path If Roster Opens Up
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Among the players who could be in the mix down the line, the Sabres are watching a small group who may have a clearer path if the roster loosens up during the 2026-27 season. There is also a college route that could create a late-season possibility, even if it is not the most likely outcome, which only adds to the sense that Buffalo's next wave may be closer than it looks right now. [Read more 🡒]