Buffalo Sabres Prediction: Peyton Krebs makes the jump next season

Buffalo Sabres center/winger Peyton Krebs is making the most of his opportunity with the Rochester Americans in the AHL’s Calder Cup Playoffs. 

In six playoff games, Buffalo Sabres forward Peyton Krebs has been one of the Rochester Americans top players, scoring eight points in six games. Only J.J. Peterka (9 points), and Arttu Ruotsalainen (10 points) scored more.

Overall, Krebs has had a successful career in the AHL, brief as it is, with 33 points in 31 games. That said, when he arrived in the Sabres organization this season following the Jack Eichel trade, Krebs was already making the jump from someone buried on the depth chart to a solid up-and-coming player.

The Sabres assigned him to Rochester for 16 games, where he scored 13 points. He earned another point when Buffalo assigned him back to the Amerks during the All-Star break.

Buffalo Sabres forward Peyton Krebs poised to make The Jump

Krebs outplayed expectations, and he became a regular member of the Sabres lineup from late December until the last regular season game on April 29th. As a member of the Sabres, he often appeared on the second or third lines, logging 14:45 of average ice time.

What really stood out regarding Krebs, though, was his 15.2 shooting percentage. This indicates he’s far more capable of putting up more than the seven goals in 48 contests that he’d shown this season. And expect a more aggressive Krebs come October that is more willing to take shots.

Krebs had 22 points overall, and 15 assists to go with his seven goals. He has shown willingness to pass the puck around, sometimes too much. His 31 giveaways are a cause for concern, but he will cut down on them with experience.

Overall, Krebs played well in his first full season. Better yet, first season of extended playing time, considering he only played in 57 games with the Sabres and Vegas Golden Knights. With a more aggressive Krebs, look for him to take more shots and score more often.

I’m projecting 123 total shots and 16 goals next season with 26 assists, good for 42 points. This will nearly double Krebs’ production from last season. The game will slow down, Krebs will get more aggressive, and the Sabres will benefit.

(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference and theAHL.com)