Louis Crevier extension: Sabres make huge $16M, 4-year bet
The Buffalo Sabres finalized a Louis Crevier extension Thursday, Oct. 1, signing the 25-year-old defenseman to a four-year, $16 million contract hours before their regular-season opener at Columbus. The deal carries a $4 million average annual value, starts in 2027-28 and runs through 2030-31, NHL.com reported.
Crevier is in the final season of a two-year contract and could have become a restricted free agent next summer, according to NHL.com.
Louis Crevier extension terms
The new deal pays Crevier $16 million over four seasons. Because the Louis Crevier extension doesn’t begin until 2027-28, he will finish out the two-year contract he signed with the Chicago Blackhawks on July 17, 2025, before the raise takes effect, per NHL.com and The Associated Press.
Why it matters for Buffalo
Buffalo acquired Crevier from Chicago on June 23 in the trade that sent defenseman Bowen Byram and forward Jordan Greenway to the Blackhawks, according to NHL.com. Buffalo also landed the No. 4 and No. 46 picks in the 2026 NHL Draft in that deal, The Associated Press reported at the time. With the draft picks headlining that return, the four-year commitment suggests the Sabres now see him as a long-term part of their blue line.
He comes in healthy despite having shoulder surgery in the offseason. Coach Lindy Ruff told NHL.com that Crevier has “moved the puck well, skated well” in camp.
Depth on defense also matters right away. Before the opener, Buffalo placed Olen Zellweger on injured reserve with a concussion and recalled Dennis Gilbert, the AP reported. The team has not ruled Zellweger out for Saturday’s home opener. For more on the lineup questions, see our Sabres vs. Blue Jackets preview.
Player background
The right-shot defenseman stands 6-foot-8. Last season with Chicago, he set career highs with seven goals, 18 assists and 25 points in 78 games. In 134 career regular-season games, he has 10 goals and 22 assists, per NHL.com.
The Blackhawks drafted Crevier in the seventh round, No. 188 overall, in 2020. His jump in production last season is a big reason the Louis Crevier extension came together before he reached restricted free agency.
What’s next
With the Louis Crevier extension done, the Sabres open the season Thursday at 7 p.m. ET against the Blue Jackets in Columbus. Goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is set to start the opener. Buffalo’s home opener is Saturday, Oct. 3, against Chicago, the team Crevier left in the summer trade. Follow more NHL coverage from Total Apex Sports.
Reporting from NHL.com and The Associated Press contributed to this story.