Are Peyton Krebs, Jack Quinn and JJ Peterka the keys to Sabres taking another step?

kAms@? vC2?2E@ 5:5?’E D4C2E49 !6JE@? zC63D[ y24< "F:?? @C yy !6E6C<2 2D 2 7@C> @7 AF?:D9>6?E H96? 6249 D2E E96 @442D:@?2= 82>6 7@C E96 qF772=@ $23C6D E9:D D62D@?]k^Am

kAm%96 AC6DDFC6 @7 ?665:?8 E@ AC@5F46 7@C 2 4=F3 H:E9 A=2J@77 2DA:C2E:@?D 42? 42FD6 J@F?8 A=2J6CD E@ 7@4FD @? DFCG:G2= C2E96C E92? :>AC@G:?8 E96:C :?5:G:5F2= 82>6] p D62E :? E96 AC6DD 3@I 82G6 E96> E:>6[ 2?5 2 5:776C6?E A6CDA64E:G6[ E@ C6D6E 2?5 C67=64E @? 9@H E96J 42? >2<6 2 8C62E6C :>A24E]k^Am

kAmzC63D[ E96 6=56DE @7 E96 E9C66 2E aa J62CD @=5[ H2E4965 G:56@ @7 q@DE@? qCF:?D 42AE2:? !2EC:46 q6C86C@? E@ DEF5J 9@H 6I46AE:@?2= 5676?D6 42? =625 E@ @776?D6] "F:?? 82:?65 2 36EE6C F?56CDE2?5:?8 @7 9@H 96 42? 7:?5 E:>6 2?5 DA246 E@ 362E 8@2=:6D H:E9 9:D D9@E] !6E6C<2 7@4FD65 @? E96 DF3E=6E:6D H:E9@FE E96 AF4< E92E 42? 56E6C>:?6 E96 @FE4@>6 @7 82>6D]k^Am

kAm%96 EC:@ FD65 E96 DF446DD 2?5 72:=FC6 @7 E96:C 7:CDE[ 7F== }w{ D62D@? E@ 96=A E96 $23C6D >2<6 2 56DA6C2E6 A=2J@77 AFD9 E92E 6?565 :? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^DA@CED^D23C6D^@3D6CG2E:@?D\D23C6D\@77:4:2==J\6=:>:?2E65\7C@>\A=2J@77\4@?E6?E:@?\H:E9\e\a\=@DD^2CE:4=60df5d3_eg\5g3d\``65\2624\gb326hh2db67]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmv2>6 g_ H:E9 2 =@DDk^2m 2E }6H y6CD6J]k^Am

kAmzC63D 46?E6C65 @?6 @7 E96 36DE 5676?D:G6 =:?6D :? E96 =628F6j "F:?? C2?<65 6:89E9 2>@?8 2== C@@<:6D :? 8@2=D D4@C65j 2?5 !6E6C<2 D9@H42D65 E96 E2?E2=:K:?8 D<:== D6E E92E >256 9:> #@496DE6C’D 36DE A=2J6C :? E96 A@DED62D@? =2DE DAC:?8]k^Am

kAm%96C6 2C6 9:89 6IA64E2E:@?D 7@C 6249 8:G6? E96 H2J E96J 56G6=@A65 F?56C vC2?2E@ 2?5 9:D 4@249:?8 DE277[ C2:D:?8 2?@E96C 4@>A6==:?8 BF6DE:@? 6?E6C:?8 E96 DF>>6Ci (:== E96J 6>6C86 :?E@ 4@?D:DE6?E 5:776C6?46\>2<6CD ?6IE D62D@? H96? E96 $23C6D H:== 36 6IA64E65 E@ 4=62C E96 A=2J@77 9FC5=6nk^Am

kAm“x H2D 6I4:E65 E@ 86E E96> :? E9:D A@D:E:@? H96C6 E96J 42? 82:? 6IA6C:6?46[” vC2?2E@ D2:5[ C67=64E:?8 @? E96 E9C66 7@CH2C5D] “p?5 x E9:?< :EVD D:8?:7:42?E 2?5 9F86] x 2> G6CJ 6I4:E65 2E 9@H >F49 E96JVC6 8@:?8 E@ :>AC@G6 C:89E ?@H F?E:= E96 DE2CE @7 ?6IE J62C] p?5 H6VG6 D66? :E] x <?@H :E D@F?5D C:5:4F=@FD[ 3FE :EVD 23@FE E96 4=@D6DE E9:?8 E@ 724E] (6 H2E4965 E96D6 8FJD[ E96J 92G6 9:?5D:89E @7 2? ga\82>6 D62D@?[ D@ 6G6CJ 52J E96J EC2:?[ 2?5 E96J 8@ E@ 365 2E ?:89E[ E96J E9:?< 23@FE E9:D 2?5 E92E 23@FE 9@4<6J 2?5 E96 }w{] ]]] x 6IA64E E96> E@ 4@>6 324< 3:886C[ DEC@?86C[ 36EE6C[ 2?5 xV> G6CJ[ G6CJ 6I4:E65 7@C E92E]”k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m!6JE@? zC63Dk^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAmzC63D’ A=2J>2<:?8 23:=:EJ H2D @?6 C62D@? H9J 96 H2D 5C27E65 `fE9 @G6C2== 3J E96 '682D v@=56? z?:89ED :? a_`h[ J6E 96’D @?=J D9@H? 7=2D96D @7 E92E 2EEC:3FE6 D:?46 ;@:?:?8 E96 $23C6D :? E96 y24< t:496= EC256] w:D C@=6[ 2?5 E96 5:77:4F=E =6DD@?D E92E 42>6 H:E9 9:D :>>6?D6 5676?D:G6 C6DA@?D:3:=:E:6D[ 4@?EC:3FE65 E@ E96 =24< @7 @776?D6 E9:D D62D@?] k^Am

kAmzC63D 7:?:D965 H:E9 ?:?6 8@2=D 2?5 ae A@:?ED H9:=6 2G6C28:?8 `bid_ @7 :46 E:>6 :? fc 82>6D] w:D ;@3 H2D E@ D9FE 5@H? E96 @AA@?6?ED’ E@A =:?6[ A2CE:4F=2C=J 2E 9@>6 H96? vC2?2E@ 925 E96 D64@?5 492?46 E@ 49@@D6 9:D >2E49FAD] zC63D C2?<65 D:IE9 @? E96 E62> :? 5676?D:G6\K@?6 DE2CED 2?5 >256 2 `_T :>AC@G6>6?E :? E96 7246@77 5@E] w6 2=D@ D9@H65 2 76:DE:?6DD E92E A=2J@77 E62>D ?665[ 7:89E:?8 2? @AA@?6?E EH:46 :? E9C66 H66<D E@ 6?6C8:K6 2?5 5676?5 9:D E62>>2E6D]k^Am

kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ tG@=G:?8\w@4<6J[ E96 =:?6 @7 zC63D[ zJ=6 ~<A@D@ 2?5 +6>8FD v:C86?D@?D C2?<65 `aE9 2>@?8 c_ =:?6D H:E9 2E =62DE b__ >:?FE6D 2E d\@?\d :? 8@2=D 2==@H65 A6C e_ >:?FE6D Wa]`dX] zC63D’ C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ 8C6H 2D E96 D62D@? AC@8C6DD65] w6 C646:G65 E96 D64@?5\>@DE D9@CE92?565 :46 E:>6 2>@?8 2== $23C6D 7@CH2C5D 27E6C E96 p==\$E2C 3C62<]k^Am

kAm%9C@F89 6IA6C:6?46 2?5 G:56@ DEF5J[ zC63D 3F:=E 2 7@F?52E:@? 5676?D:G6=J E92E 4@F=5 =625 E@ 2 3C62<E9C@F89 @? @776?D6 ?6IE D62D@?] w:D =:?6 96>>65 E96 @AA@?6?E :?E@ :ED @H? K@?6 >2?J ?:89ED 3FE 4@F=5?’E EC2?D=2E6 E92E :?E@ 8@2=D] k^Am

kAm“(6 H2E4965 2 =@E @7 q6C86C@?[ 2 =@E @7 8FJD =:<6 E92E E@ 2==@H >JD6=7 E@ D66 H92E E96J 5@ E@ >2<6 E96> 8C62E[ 2?5 x 42? 255 E92E E@ >J 82>6[” zC63D D2:5] Qw2G:?8 E92E 7@F?52E:@? 5676?D:G6=J 8:G6D WvC2?2E@X E96 ECFDE E92E H96? xV> @FE E96C6 :? E96 =2DE EH@ >:?FE6D @7 2 9@4<6J 82>6[ @C 5@H? @C FA 2 8@2= E92E 96 42? ECFDE >6[ 2?5 x E9:?< E92E H2D 9F86 7@C >6] ]]] x E9:?< 8@:?8 :?E@ ?6IE J62C xV== 92G6 E92E 7@F?52E:@? 2?5 x 42? 3C:?8 >@C6 @776?D6]”k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8my24< "F:??k^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAm"F:?? :D 2=D@ A@:D65 7@C 2 3C62<@FE D62D@?] w6 3642>6 2 ECFDE65 A6?2=EJ\<:==6C[ 3682? E@ 4@?D:DE6?E=J H:? AF4< 32EE=6D 2?5 762C=6DD=J 7@F?5 H2JD E@ 4C62E6 D4@C:?8 @AA@CEF?:E:6D] %96C6 H6C6 >2?J :?DE2?46D :? H9:49 "F:?? D66>65 E@ 36 D<2E:?8 5:C64E=J :?E@ 5676?D:G6 4@G6C286[ E96? 96’5 >2?6FG6C 2C@F?5 2? @AA@?6?E 2?5 7:?5 2 H2J E@ FD6 9:D D9@E E@ 492==6?86 E96 8@2=:6]k^Am

kAm"F:??[ H9@ EFC?D aa :? $6AE6>36C[ C2?<65 7:7E9 2>@?8 2== C@@<:6D :? H:?D 23@G6 C6A=246>6?E[ 244@C5:?8 E@ tG@=G:?8\w@4<6J[ 2?5 D6G6?E9 :? A@:?ED WbfX] w:D `c 8@2=D 2?5 `ae D9@ED @? 8@2= H6C6 6:89E9] ~?=J 7:G6 7@CH2C5D @? E96 $23C6D C64@C565 36EE6C D9@E BF2=:EJ 2E d\@?\d E92? "F:?? 7@==@H:?8 E96 p==\$E2C 3C62<] %:>6 2?5 282:?[ "F:?? 92D AC@G65 E92E 96 =62C?D 7C@> 25G6CD6 D:EF2E:@?D]k^Am

kAmsFC:?8 E96 a_a_\a` D62D@? H96? E66?286CD H6C6 2==@H65 E@ A=2J :? E96 p>6C:42? w@4<6J {628F6[ "F:?? 2AA62C65 :? `d 82>6D H:E9 #@496DE6C 2?5 562=E H:E9 :?;FC:6D E92E =65 E@ DECF88=6D @? E96 :46] w6 C63@F?565 E@ 364@>6 E96 pw{’D E@A C@@<:6 E96 7@==@H:?8 DAC:?8[ AC@5F4:?8 ae 8@2=D 2?5 e` A@:?ED :? cd 82>6D] p 962=E9J D4C2E49 7:G6 E:>6D E9:D D62D@?[ "F:?? 925 D@>6 DEC@?8 A6C7@C>2?46D D<2E:?8 @? E96 E@A =:?6 H:E9 %286 %9@>AD@? H96? p=6I %F49 H2D @FE H:E9 2? :?;FCJ] vC2?2E@ 2=D@ >6?E:@?65 "F:?? 2D 2 3C:89E DA@E @? E96 E62>’D A6?2=EJ <:== :? E96 7:?2= H66<D]k^Am

kAm“%96 }w{ @3G:@FD=J :D?VE 62DJ[ 6DA64:2==J 2D a`\J62C\@=5[ @C a_[ @C H92E6G6C E96J 2C6j x E9:?< E96JVC6 2== DF49 H@C<9@CD6D[” $23C6D 5676?D6>2? |2EE:2D $2>F6=DD@? D2:5[ C676CC:?8 E@ zC63D[ "F:?? 2?5 !6E6C<2] “xV> D42C65 E@ D66 9@H E96J 4@>6 324<] w@H 8@@5 2?5 9@H 72DE E96D6 8FJD 56G6=@A 2?5 9@H D<:==65 E96J 2C6[ :EVD D42CJ] x >62?[ WsJ=2? r@K6?DX 8@6D @77 7@C b_] "F:??6C 42? 5@ E96 D2>6 E9:?8 ?6IE J62C] x H@F=5?VE 36 DFCAC:D65 2E 2==] ]]] x E9:?< 6G6CJ@?6 C62=:K6D 9@H >F49 J@F?8 E2=6?E H6 92G6] zC63DJ[ E@@[ 9F86 DE6AD] yy[ 9F86 DE6AD]”k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8myy !6E6C<2k^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAm!6E6C<2’D D62D@? C6D6>3=65 E96 @?6 96 925 :? #@496DE6C 2 J62C 28@] x? 3@E9 42D6D[ E96C6 H6C6 D@>6 5:77:4F=E >@>6?ED :? E96 5676?D:G6 K@?6] w6 92D 2? 6=:E6 D<2E:?8 DEC:56 2?5 2== E96 E@@=D E@ 36 2 5J?2>:4 EH@\H2J A=2J6C[ 3FE :E’D ?2EFC2= 7@C 2 J@F?8 A=2J6C H:E9 9:D D<:== D6E E@ =62C? E92E 6G6? E96 D>2==6DE >:DE2<6D EFC? :?E@ 8@2=D 282:?DE :? E96 }w{] k^Am

kAm$E:==[ !6E6C<2 H2D 2?@E96C DF446DD DE@CJ 7@C E96 $23C6D 2?5[ =:<6 =2DE D62D@?[ D9@H65 :>AC6DD:G6 D:8?D @7 8C@HE9 :? 9:89\DE2<6D 82>6D] w6 925 7@FC 8@2=D 2?5 `` A@:?ED H:E9 ba D9@ED @? ?6E :? E96 7:?2= `g 82>6D] w:D `a 8@2=D 2?5 ba A@:?ED :? ff 82>6D 2D 2 C@@<:6 H6C6 2? :>A@CE2?E D@FC46 @7 D64@?52CJ D4@C:?8] !6E6C<2[ H9@ H@?’E EFC? aa F?E:= y2?F2CJ[ 2=D@ AC@G65 96 42? >2<6 9:D =:?6>2E6D 36EE6C] w6 C2?<65 D:IE9 @? E96 E62> :? AC:>2CJ 2DD:DED A6C e_ >:?FE6D 2?5 7:7E9 :? :?5:G:5F2= D9@E BF2=:EJ 2E d\@?\d[ 244@C5:?8 E@ }2EFC2= $E2E %C:4<]k^Am

kAmxEVD =:<6=J E96 $23C6D H:== EC256 H:?86C ':4E@C ~=@7DD@? E9:D DF>>6C] w6’D 6?E6C:?8 E96 7:?2= J62C @7 9:D 4@?EC24E 2?5 5@6D?’E >2<6 6?@F89 @7 2? :>A24E 2E 6G6? DEC6?8E9 H96? 96’D ?@E D4@C:?8] w:D DA@E 4@F=5 36 E2<6? 3J AC@DA64ED y:C: zF=:49 @C |2EE $2G@:6[ 3FE E96C6VD C:D< :? H2=<:?8 2H2J 7C@> ~=@7DD@?’D 8@2=\D4@C:?8] w:D 42C66C\9:89 ag 8@2=D C2?<65 7:7E9 @? E96 E62>]k^Am

kAmw@H6G6C[ E96 4@249:?8 DE277 2?5 >2?286>6?E 92G6 2 9:89 =6G6= @7 4@?7:56?46 E92E zC63D[ "F:?? 2?5 !6E6C<2 H:== 36 23=6 E@ 7:== E96 G@:5 :7 E96 $23C6D 49@@D6 E@ A2CE H2JD H:E9 ~=@7DD@?] t249 @7 E96 E9C66 H:== 92G6 E@ >2<6 >@C6 @7 2? :>A24E @? E96 A@H6C A=2J 27E6C 4@>3:?:?8 7@C `c A@:?ED @? E96 >2?\25G2?E286 E9:D D62D@?]k^Am

kAm“x H2?E E@ E2<6 E96 ?6IE DE6A ?6IE J62C[” !6E6C<2 D2:5]k^Am