Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) – Peyton Krebs understands and embraces the role he’ll be playing with the Buffalo Sabres this season. The one thing he didn’t realize is he’d be fighting the likes of Sidney Crosby this preseason.
When Buffalo played the Penguins last Friday in the preseason finale, the one thing he didn’t have on his mind is being challenged to fight Pittsburgh's captain. Crosby was the man for Krebs growing up, and he’s not sorry it happened.
"He’s been my favorite player growing up since I can remember. It was definitely something I didn’t expect, but it was fun," said Krebs following practice this past Saturday.
"We were battling hard. It's two competitive guys that like to win. I didn’t expect him to give me that many [cross checks], but I loved it. He can keep doing it in the regular season, and I’ll give it back."
Krebs had hit Penguins defenseman Kris Letang behind the net, and Crosby took exception to it.
They later showed the two of them on TV yacking at each other in the penalty box, but Krebs said it wasn’t trash talk.
"I said we’ve got to sit in here for five minutes, and he said his legs were going to hurt more than mine."
Getting back to Krebs and his role, he, once again, will be between Kyle Okposo and Zemgus Girgensons. That line was one of the best defensive lines in the National Hockey League last season, and they spent a lot of time in the offensive zone thanks to their forechecking abilities.
Krebs had nine goals and 26 points in 74 games last season, while Okposo had 11 goals and 28 points in 75 games, and Girgensons had 10 goals and 18 points in 80 games.
Sabres head coach Don Granato says they can improve without sacrificing anything that they have done well in the past.
"They all have greater offensive capability, and it’s not doing much different than they did last season," said Granato of that trio. "They just created chances last year that they didn’t capitalize on."
Krebs isn’t afraid to be physical or fight, and Granato feels it gives his teammates a lift.
"A couple of times during the season last year, he did a nice job of firing up our bench up," Granato said.
Everybody, including Krebs, knows that Tage Thompson and Dylan Cozens are Buffalo’s top-two centers. Krebs also knows if he wants to be on this team, which he does, he has to find a different role.
"He is embracing the fact that he’s with two guys that are very experienced, straight forward hockey players that know how to grind," Granato said of Krebs. "Those three guys bring attributes to our team that others need to pick up on. That is a very important trio for us."
When Krebs arrived after being traded to Buffalo from the Vegas Golden Knights, he was an offensive playmaker that really didn’t know how to forecheck well.
"When Peyton first came in with us, he took a lot of pride in playmaking and really putting up points," Granato said. "We challenged him in that regard to find other ways to add to that, and we told him to embrace this role, because, 'We feel you’re going to add different skills that are really going to help you.' There has been remarkable progress in that."
Krebs really loves being a member of the Sabres, and wants to play in Buffalo for years to come. He feels to accomplish that, he has to embrace a roll that he’s never had to before.
"I’ve allowed myself to find a role where I want to be the guy that can shut down the top lines, can play [penalty kill], and win every faceoff that I can," Krebs said.
"I want to be the guy that coach can rely on every shift to get the puck out, have a good stick, go get some shots on net. I know, for sure, I can put up points in this league, but the main goal for me is to continue to get better every day, and keep giving my team an opportunity to win. That’s what I want to do playing with 'Okie' and 'Z'."
Krebs also credits Okposo and Girgensons to help him improve in his role.
"With those guys, you know where they’re going to be at all times," he said. "We’ve found a rhythm together where when I put a puck in a certain spot, I know they’re going to be there."
At Wednesday's practice, Casey Mittelstadt returned to the ice after missing Tuesday's session with an upper-body injury.
With that said, it looks like Buffalo will just have the two injuries going into the season with Jack Quinn (Achilles) and Matt Savoie (shoulder).
