Player Discussion Peyton Krebs C/LW -- Re-signed 2 years, $1.45m AAV

[Royal Thunder]

Clearly he has to add more strength but overall I think he’s had a very encouraging year for us. You can see the offensive skill and hockey iq. He works his ass off, has good speed, and has shown some mature play (the stick lift to save a Chiasson goal last game comes to mind).

Once he matures physically he feels like a good bet to be a top 6 staple and a PP beast.

 

[Butt Ox]

Clearly he has to add more strength but overall I think he’s had a very encouraging year for us. You can see the offensive skill and hockey iq. He works his ass off, has good speed, and has shown some mature play (the stick lift to save a Chiasson goal last game comes to mind).

Once he matures physically he feels like a good bet to be a top 6 staple and a PP beast.

On this latest west coast swing, watching the lads hustle to make changes - even in the 3rd - makes me believe that they get it.

 

[Zman5778]

Clearly he has to add more strength but overall I think he’s had a very encouraging year for us. You can see the offensive skill and hockey iq. He works his ass off, has good speed, and has shown some mature play (the stick lift to save a Chiasson goal last game comes to mind).

Once he matures physically he feels like a good bet to be a top 6 staple and a PP beast.

The thing that's surprised me about him is his willingness to engage along the boards. I know the scouting reports said that he didn't shy away from it.....but he actually seems like he does well and kinda enjoys it. Once he matures physically, he's going to win most board battles. Just like Cozens.

 

[Chainshot]

 

[Chainshot]

 

[Jacob582]

Appert stated today that he talked with Karmanos and Adams and the organization sees Krebs as a center.

Therefore, he will play center for tonight's AHL playoff game. They are moving R2 to wing to do so. Murray will be the other winger on the line.

 

[HogtownSabresfan]

The issue with Krebs is his two-way game. I think that can be fixed. The talent is there

 

[Chainshot]

Hopefully he's mindful of how he handles the puck and plays a safer game in his own zone. Others before him have made those adjustments, I'm sure he can too.

 

[Jacob582]

Hopefully he's mindful of how he handles the puck and plays a safer game in his own zone. Others before him have made those adjustments, I'm sure he can too.

Well, Appert did say he preached, "Safe is death" the week leading up to their final regular season game.

Does Krebs need a different message in the playoffs?

 

[Chainshot]

Well, Appert did say he preached, "Safe is death" the week leading up to their final regular season game.

Does Krebs need a different message in the playoffs?

Said another way - stupid is stupid. Backhand passes from the wall to the middle of the defensive zone are stupid. Krebs has made his share of stupid turnovers of that variety in both Buffalo and previously in Rochester. If it's stupid and it works, it's still stupid, just lucky.

 

[jmelm]

Appert stated today that he talked with Karmanos and Adams and the organization sees Krebs as a center.

Therefore, he will play center for tonight's AHL playoff game. They are moving R2 to wing to do so. Murray will be the other winger on the line.

Interesting. If he's a C and Thompson and Cozens are C's, it makes you wonder what their short & longer term plans for Mittelstadt are.

 

[Jacob582]

Said another way - stupid is stupid. Backhand passes from the wall to the middle of the defensive zone are stupid. Krebs has made his share of stupid turnovers of that variety in both Buffalo and previously in Rochester. If it's stupid and it works, it's still stupid, just lucky.

True. And Appert's message was mostly about playing their attacking aggresive style.

 

[elchud]

Interesting. If he's a C and Thompson and Cozens are C's, it makes you wonder what their short & longer term plans for Mittelstadt are.

I think Mitts needs to have a healthy and productive season next year to stay in the teams long term plans. Especially if we draft a center at #9

 

[Zman5778]

Interesting. If he's a C and Thompson and Cozens are C's, it makes you wonder what their short & longer term plans for Mittelstadt are.

I watched the St. Louis/Minny game the other night.

It struck me that what we're building is very much akin to what the Blues kind of have. A rather completely interchangeable and deep top 9 with a solid 4th line center. Just like the Blues, might not have the top end talent on offense, but incredibly deep. Thompson/Cozens/Mitts/Krebs would kinda be like that, except a MUCH better 4th line.

 

[jmelm]

I think Mitts needs to have a healthy and productive season next year to stay in the teams long term plans. Especially if we draft a center at #9

Agreed. The good thing is there’s no rush to make a decision, and even if Krebs is a C long term, he may well be on LW again next season, for one more year.

And I definitely would not want to trade him now because I feel that would be selling low. If he starts next season like he finished last season when Granato took over, that would definitely help all involved.

 

[jmelm]

I watched the St. Louis/Minny game the other night.

It struck me that what we're building is very much akin to what the Blues kind of have. A rather completely interchangeable and deep top 9 with a solid 4th line center. Just like the Blues, might not have the top end talent on offense, but incredibly deep. Thompson/Cozens/Mitts/Krebs would kinda be like that, except a MUCH better 4th line.

Yes, but…

I don’t think you can have a guy like Mitts (or Krebs) as 4C. It’s just untenable and the player will want a trade. There’s only so much ice time and PP time to go around, and if a guy like Mitts thinks he can be a top-6 C in the NHL, he’s going to want to have that opportunity and get paid accordingly.

So 3 scoring lines — yes, that is definitely the way of the future that NHL teams are striving for, provided they have the depth (which we do). The role of a good 3rd line is years past now is the role of the 4th line in today’s NHL and going forward.

But 4 scoring lines is not a thing. You need those defensive studs and specialty players on the 4th and sprinkled into your bottom 6.

 

[Fjordy]

Great playmaker, kid still fusses a lot and sometimes gives strange passes, but this will pass, he has all the qualities to become a good top 6 player.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Yes, but…

I don’t think you can have a guy like Mitts (or Krebs) as 4C. It’s just untenable and the player will want a trade. There’s only so much ice time and PP time to go around, and if a guy like Mitts thinks he can be a top-6 C in the NHL, he’s going to want to have that opportunity and get paid accordingly.

So 3 scoring lines — yes, that is definitely the way of the future that NHL teams are striving for, provided they have the depth (which we do). The role of a good 3rd line is years past now is the role of the 4th line in today’s NHL and going forward.

But 4 scoring lines is not a thing. You need those defensive studs and specialty players on the 4th and sprinkled into your bottom 6.

It's never been a problem in the history of the NHL to have too many centers. We basically have until Levi shows up until we need to figure out which one either plays wing or gets traded. Until then, keep doing what they did last season.

 

[jmelm]

It's never been a problem in the history of the NHL to have too many centers. We basically have until Levi shows up until we need to figure out which one either plays wing or gets traded. Until then, keep doing what they did last season.

Exactly. That’s why in my lineup projections I still have Krebs as a LW for next season. Beyond that, who knows?

But if all 4 of those C’s are playing great offensive hockey, I just don’t see the team being able to stick one on the 4th line. Either one of them will have to be moved to W long term, or they’ll need to trade a guy like Mitts.

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

Exactly. That’s why in my lineup projections I still have Krebs as a LW for next season. Beyond that, who knows?

But if all 4 of those C’s are playing great offensive hockey, I just don’t see the team being able to stick one on the 4th line. Either one of them will have to be moved to W long term, or they’ll need to trade a guy like Mitts.

If they all fit under the cap and there are no other pressing needs, I don't see the problem. A 4th scoring line?!? Oh no!!

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

If they all fit under the cap and there are no other pressing needs, I don't see the problem. A 4th scoring line?!? Oh no!!

Granato already specifically said he wouldn't want any of those four on the 4th line long term in one of his pressers.

 

[jmelm]

If they all fit under the cap and there are no other pressing needs, I don't see the problem. A 4th scoring line?!? Oh no!!

Yeah, and why would a legit top 6 forward want to play on the 4th line? This isn't a 1 game all-star team.

 

[TheMistyStranger]

I think long-term, he's an NHL winger on a line centered by Cozens.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Yeah, and why would a legit top 6 forward want to play on the 4th line? This isn't a 1 game all-star team.

It sounds nice on paper until you realize you'd be under-utilizing the most highly paid players. Because of the salary cap, you need a line of low-paid players who can just hold the fort down defensively to give the stars some rest.

 

[elchud]

It sounds nice on paper until you realize you'd be under-utilizing the most highly paid players. Because of the salary cap, you need a line of low-paid players who can just hold the fort down defensively to give the stars some rest.

Thats how the top teams in the NHL roll, between 5 and 10 players 1.5 million and under.