Peyton Krebs has turned into one of the Sabres’ most adaptable pieces, and Tuesday night was another reminder of why Lindy Ruff keeps finding ways to use him.
Moved onto the first line late in Buffalo’s 3-2 overtime win, Krebs shifted his approach immediately. With Tage Thompson and another scoring threat beside him, the job became less about hanging onto the puck and more about getting it to the right place at the right time. Krebs did exactly that on the tying goal, forcing Quinn Hughes to cough up a loose puck in the Minnesota Wild zone, then taking over along the right boards before slipping a feed to Thompson in the slot.
The play fit the way Krebs sees himself. As he put it during training camp, “Kind of just contribute to those guys making sure they’re getting the puck,” Krebs told the Times Herald during training camp.
On Wednesday, he described the setup a little more bluntly: “I just try to work to get him pucks, find him, make plays.”
“We’re in our sixth year together,” Krebs said after the Sabres prepared for Thursday’s game against the Dallas Stars in KeyBank Center. “I just try to work to get him pucks, find him, make plays.”
The 25-year-old has spent much of his NHL life moving up and down the lineup, but that hasn’t kept him from making an impact. A natural center at 6-foot and 191 pounds, Krebs spent the second half of last season on left wing with Thompson and Alex Tuch as Buffalo surged into the NHL’s hottest team. He opened Tuesday’s game on the left side with Jiri Kulich and Konsta Helenius, then later slid into a different spot and still changed the game.
His role changes depending on who’s around him. With Sam Carrick and Beck Malenstyn on a lower line, Krebs said his style shifts again.
“Mal’s a fantastic forechecker, so is (Carrick),” he said. “You tend to do that a little bit less when you’re with those guys, so you end up having the puck more.”
Ruff has embraced that versatility and given Krebs a label that says plenty about how the coach views him.
“I can put you anywhere,” he said. “I can play you (at) center.
I can move you up. I can put you on the energy line.
I can use you killing. I can use you (the) odd time (on the) power play.
It’s just part of his role, and he accepts it.”
Thompson sees the same thing from the inside.
“I think fans love him just because of how hard he works, and I think a lot of people forget that he’s got a lot of high-end skill,” he said. “I love playing with him.”
Krebs’ jump under Ruff has been one of the clearest examples of player growth in Buffalo. After being scratched for the season opener in 2024-25, he has since appeared in 189 straight games, including 13 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Last season he set career highs across the board with 12 goals and 39 points in 82 games, then signed a four-year, $18 million contract.
He said the biggest difference has been opportunity and trust.
“Not that Donny (Granato) didn’t do that,” Krebs said of the Sabres’ previous coach. “Maybe I just wasn’t ready at that time.
But I didn’t get that opportunity to do that with him. I don’t even need to play up the lineup, just get some more minutes.
“I think (Ruff has) allowed me. He’s trusted me. He’s instilled the things I need to do in my game to be a good NHLer and the qualities I need, and when I’m out of check, he’ll make sure I’m right back in it.”
Krebs has also put serious money and time into his own development. He said he built a gym and a shooting room at home, has “tried every single health hack you can think of,” and has worked with skills coaches in Calgary, where he spends his offseason in Alberta. He also leans on Hall of Famer Adam Oates to evaluate his game.
“You only have so long you can play this game, and I don’t want to half-ass it,” he said. “A lot of people say the best investment is in yourself, and I’m trying to do that to help my career.”
Ruff said winger Jason Zucker, who is recovering from offseason sports hernia surgery, will skate with the Sabres on some days and do rehab skates on others. Zucker did not practice Wednesday after taking part in Tuesday’s pregame skate.
Ruff also said Mattias Samuelsson had a maintenance day Wednesday and would be given a day off if needed. Goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is expected to start Thursday after Colten Ellis played in Tuesday’s win.
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