Throughout training camp, whenever reporters asked coach Lindy Ruff about defenseman Louis Crevier, one of the Sabres’ offseason additions, he lauded his smart, efficient style.
Crevier, who arrived in Buffalo in the blockbuster trade that sent defenseman Bowen Byram to the Chicago Blackhawks, clearly made a strong first impression on Ruff and the Sabres.
On Thursday morning, hours before their season opener in Columbus against the Blue Jackets, the Sabres illustrated just how much they think of the newcomer by signing him to a four-year, $16 million contract extension.
The deal will kick in next season. The 6-foot-8, 236-pound Crevier is entering the final season of a two-year, $1.8 million contract.
Crevier, 25, told reporters in Columbus contract talks became “more serious and intense” in the last week. The sides starting talking about a new deal shortly after the Sabres acquired him June 23.
“I’m just super glad it’s behind me,” he told reporters. “And just having stability is going to, I think, help me a ton to play hockey.”
The right-shot Crevier spent some of the preseason skating alongside captain Rasmus Dahlin or Owen Power on Buffalo’s first and second defense pair. Crevier played with Power in the opener.
“He’s defended well through the (preseason),” Ruff said of Crevier following Wednesday’s practice in KeyBank Center. “So I think playing with either one of those guys is a good fit. Even the game the other night, his first puck play was almost always the right play. He got a lot of pucks to the net in the offensive zone. He jumped in a couple times nicely to add some offense.
“But I think first and foremost, you look at his defending. I thought his defending was good.”
Ruff told reporters Thursday the Sabres had “a little concern” how Crevier would look after undergoing shoulder surgery in the summer.
“He’s moved the puck well, skated well,” he said. “… Everything looks great. I think he’s going to be a great fit for our hockey club.”
Crevier, a seventh-round pick in 2020, 188th overall, has beaten long odds to crack the NHL, let alone stick. He has played 128 NHL games. The rest of the players drafted in the final round that year had combined for 102 big league appearances entering this season.
“I kind of finished one chapter in Chicago, and I was just super excited to start a new one here,” he said. “It’s such a good team as well. I think that should motivate everyone in here.”
He called committing to the Sabres for four more years before playing a regular-season game “a no-brainer.”
“It’s like a feeling thing,” he said. “It’s hard to describe. At the end of the day, we’re hockey players, and I just want to play hockey. If a team wants me for four, five more years with this year, I couldn’t really refuse it. It’s such a great thing.”
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The Sabres on Thursday recalled veteran defenseman Dennis Gilbert from the Rochester Americans.
To create a spot on the 23-man roster, the Sabres placed defenseman Olen Zellweger on injured reserve. Zellweger suffered a concussion last week.
The Sabres summoned Gilbert for insurance because they lost three of their top defensemen to injury – Zellweger, Mattias Samuelsson and Conor Timmins – during the preseason.
Only six defensemen, including Samuelsson, who’s recovering from a lower-body injury, practiced Wednesday.
Samuelsson, who was on injured reserve, played against the Blue Jackets. To create a spot, the Sabres placed goalie Alex Lyon (upper body) on injured reserve.
Ruff said Wednesday that Zellweger could return for Saturday’s home opener against Chicago.
Gilbert, 29, struggled during the preseason before clearing waivers and being assigned to the Amerks. The Buffalo native returned this season after spending most of 2024-25 with the Sabres.
“He brings physicality, a veteran presence,” Ruff said. “We felt (in 2024-25), when we had him in, we like what he did, and we know what he can offer.”