Peyton Krebs looks like the Sabres player best built for the way Buffalo wants to play.
The organization has made its identity pretty clear: defensive responsibility, a hard forecheck, and plenty of sandpaper. That profile fits Krebs as well as anyone on the roster, and after a steady climb over the last two seasons, he appears ready for another jump this year.
There was a stretch when Krebs seemed stuck. He managed just nine goals and 26 points in 2022-23, then followed that with four goals and 17 points in 80 games in 2023-24. For a 2019 first-round pick, those numbers left plenty of questions about what his ceiling really was.
That changed once Lindy Ruff returned behind the bench.
Krebs responded with his first double-digit goal season and finished that year with 28 points, even while spending most of his time on the fourth line. He wasn’t always front and center, but he kept showing up in the little ways that matter.
Last season, the production took another step. Krebs posted career highs with 12 goals, 27 assists, and 39 points in 82 games. His plus-13 rating also backed up the idea that he can hold his own on the defensive side and stay in the lineup.
Trust from Ruff has been a big part of the rise. Krebs saw his role expand at different points last season and even picked up shifts on the top line. Now, early training camp reports have him starting there again, this time alongside Tage Thompson at center and Josh Doan on the other wing.
He may not bring the same level of pure offense as Thompson, but he brings exactly the kind of edge Buffalo wants. He’ll get into the dirty areas, forecheck hard, and play with an edge. That’s part of the reason the Sabres signed him to a four-year deal in July.
The setup makes sense. Krebs and Doan are there to battle for pucks and feed Thompson, one of the league’s most dangerous finishers. Their speed and tenacity could make that line a problem for opponents every night.
At 13:46 of ice time per game last season, Krebs already showed he can contribute while handling a manageable workload. Starting the year with two of Buffalo’s better offensive pieces gives him a real chance to push those numbers higher.
He probably won’t be the Sabres’ top scorer, and he may never be the type of player who drives a line by himself. But he looks ready to take another step, and a 20-goal season is now very much in play. If he sticks in that spot, 60 points doesn’t feel out of reach either.
For a team trying to define itself through grit and discipline, Krebs is exactly the kind of player that fits the mold. Buffalo has changed its culture, and Krebs has become one of the clearest examples of it.
In Other News...
Sabres-Senators Just Became A Rivalry Buffalo Can't Ignore
Buffalos schedule already has a few familiar pressure points, but the meetings with Ottawa are starting to feel like something more than just another set of divisional games. The Sabres are coming off a season in which they finished atop the Atlantic Division, and with both clubs gearing up for 2026-27, there is a clear sense that this matchup deserves extra attention from the Buffalo side.
The recent player movement between the organizations has only sharpened the edge, giving every meeting a little more weight than usual. Ottawa also has an extra game against Buffalo this season, which only adds to the sense that these teams will see plenty of each other, and they could end up crossing paths again when the 2027 playoff bracket starts to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Prospects Face A Preseason Fight That Could Change Everything
With Buffalos Opening Night picture mostly set, the attention has shifted to the prospects who will likely begin the year in Rochester and try to force their way into the conversation later. For a few young players, preseason has become less about making a last-second roster push and more about showing the organization their game is moving in the right direction, especially with the Sabres expecting some help from the AHLs Americans to open the season.
Jake Richard, Radim Mrtka and Ryan Johnson are in different stages of that climb, but all three have something to prove before the 2026-27 season arrives. Richards recent play has offered glimpses, Mrtka is still sorting through the demands that come with his development path, and Johnson is trying to show he can handle the next step in a role that could still come into view if Buffalo needs reinforcements. Preseason wont decide everything, but it can make the road to an NHL recall a lot clearer. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Preseason Opener Suddenly Puts Seth Appert In The Spotlight
The Sabres opened their preseason with a different face behind the bench, as Seth Appert stepped into the head coaching role for the night and suddenly found himself in a more visible spot than usual. The temporary shift comes at a time when Buffalo is trying to sort through roster decisions and evaluate players in game action, which gives the preseason opener a little more weight than a typical tune-up.
Apperts task is straightforward in theory and tricky in practice: create the best possible setting for players to show what they can do. With the staff adjusting for the night, the focus in this game shifts toward the younger names and fringe roster hopefuls, while Buffalo waits for its regular bench boss to return and reclaim the seat after the brief interruption. [Read more 🡒]