Sabres’ Peyton Krebs on Track for Breakout Season

Since Ruff’s return, the light has come on for Krebs. He hit double digits in goals that first season, hitting 28 points. He played mostly on the fourth line, but quickly became one of those players that you notice because of all the little things he does.

Krebs hit career-highs across the board last season: 12 goals, 27 assists, and 39 points in 82 games. His plus-13 rating showed he is defensively responsible enough to make the lineup regularly.

Krebs Has Ruff’s Trust

Perhaps the biggest factor working in Krebs’ favor is that he has his coach’s trust. He played higher up in the lineup at points last season, even earning some minutes on the top line.

Early reports out of training camp have Krebs on the top line with Tage Thompson at center and Josh Doan on the other wing. He may not have the high-end offensive talent the others do, but he plays like other notable players on the team: he’s willing to get his nose dirty, play with an edge, and forecheck with tenacity. There is a reason the Sabres locked him down for four more years in July.

He and Doan will be tasked with digging the puck out of the tough areas and getting it to Thompson, one of the game’s best snipers. Their combined speed and tenacity will make them very tough to handle on a nightly basis.

Not a True Top Line Player but Still Quite Good

Krebs flashed his offensive potential while averaging 13:46 of ice time each night. Beginning the season on the top line, with two of the team’s best offensive players no less, will give him every opportunity to better those numbers.

He may not be a true top-of-the-lineup player or team statistical leader, but Krebs looks ready to take his game up another notch. He and Doan have a chance to capitalize on Thompson’s lethal shot, rewarding them for the kind of hard work that rarely shows up on the score sheet.

Look for the 25-year-old center to cross the 20-goal threshold for the first time in his career this season. Given his role and positioning on the top line, it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility to see him hit the 60-point plateau as well if he can stick around in that spot.

The organization’s culture has changed dramatically in recent years, and players like Krebs are the poster children of that change. Buffalo may not be the biggest team on the block, but they won’t be pushed around, and they will muck it up with anyone. Krebs epitomizes the way the Sabres play hockey, and he’s about to get rewarded for that hard work.