Buffalo Sabres: Will Peyton Krebs be the breakout player in 2022-23?
Peyton Krebs did not have outstanding numbers in 2021-22. But he produced more than the Buffalo Sabres or anyone would have thought.
Peyton Krebs came to the Buffalo Sabres via the Jack Eichel trade that also brought winger Alex Tuch to the organization. Krebs, played in just 20 games with the Henderson Silver Knights and Vegas Golden Knights combined, so he was an unknown commodity when he came to the Queen City.
He would spend time in Rochester, but eventually, worked his way onto the main roster, where he played in 48 games, scoring 22 points, seven goals, and 15 assists. Not great numbers, but not bad considering he only has 86 games of combined NHL/AHL experience.
Buffalo Sabres forward Peyton Krebs is a versatile player who can serve the team in many ways
Something that stands out about Krebs is that he is listed as a center but he played a lot of left wing in 2021-22. This versatility lets the Sabres use him in multiple ways, and it is something you see via early season projections on where Krebs will play.
Some have even listed him as a potential fourth-line center, though I believe he will slide into winger on the second line – most likely playing alongside Casey Mittelstadt and Victor Olofsson. Krebs’ statistics also show that he can keep a spot on the middle six, and that he also has potential to be a breakout player for the Buffalo Sabres this season.
Why Krebs will be the Buffalo Sabres breakout player
Few players can step into an NHL lineup after playing in 25 career AHL games, but that is exactly what Krebs did. And while he did have some poor statistics, such as a 35.7 win percentage with face-offs and 31 giveaways, his 15 assists and 15.2 shooting percentage jump out.
Take Krebs’ 22 points in 48 games and even them out to an 82-game season: You get 38 points, which is what Dylan Cozens scored in 79 games. This indicates that Krebs was one of the better scoring forwards on the ice not named Jeff Skinner, Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch, or Victor Olofsson.
As with many rookies heading into their second season, the game will slow down for Krebs. So it is not far-fetched to believe that he can potentially put up some dominant performances in Year 2. He will also have chemistry with Mittelstadt and Olofsson, which will only augment the possibility he can take games over from the second line.
Why Krebs will have a tough time breaking out this season
While I find it highly likely that Krebs will continue to trend north for the Buffalo Sabres, there is also a chance he does not breakout. Krebs is only entering his second season, and first full season in the league, meaning he’s taking nobody by surprise.
This will allow opponents to key on Krebs if he does get off to a hot start, and it will be up to him and head coach Don Granato to circumvent this. And with a young player like Krebs facing such a potential challenge, it is not always possible to overcome in Year 2 of a career, hence the phrase sophomore slump.
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As the season wears on, Krebs must find ways to overcome the inevitable, and it could lead to stagnated production during the second half of the season if he does not. Overall, I expect Krebs to hit the ground running, but there is no guarantee that he will continue his hot pace all season.
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)