Is Krebs Promotion A Deadline Showcase Or A Tryout For A Bigger Role?
The 23-year-old center has 11 points (3 goals, 8 assists) in 56 games this season
Is Krebs Promotion A Deadline Showcase Or A Tryout For A Bigger Role?As clubs approach the NHL trade deadline, lineup changes have to be scrutinized and evaluated for a larger meaning.
For nearly all of the season, Peyton Krebs has been relegated to a four-line energy role, playing mostly as a checker between veterans Zemgus Girgensons and team captain Kyle Okposo. Earlier this month, during the Sabres four-game homestand, head coach Don Granato moved the 23-year-old center up in the lineup, playing him in a more offensive role with wingers J-J Peterka and Zach Benson, shifting Dylan Cozens to the wing alongside Casey Mittelstadt.
Krebs has seen his minutes increase over the 15-minute mark in three of the last four games and in Sunday’s 3-2 shootout win over Carolina, he set up Owen Power for the tying goal with less than five minutes left in regulation.
"He's been just been unbelievable lately. You can see the confidence that's growing," Cozens said after practice on Monday. "He's always had so much skill. I'm happy for him to get that opportunity. He works so hard every day and for him to get the opportunity and play the way he is right now. I couldn't be happier for him."
The question is what is behind the promotion? There were rumors in early February that the former Vegas first-rounder was getting interest from the Philadelphia Flyers, but it is hard to imagine the Sabres dealing Krebs coming to the end of his entry-level contract and being retainable for a low salary cap hit unless they have a trade for a comparably aged player at another position.
Another possibility for seeing Krebs playing a more offensive role higher in the lineup is the potential trading of Mittelstadt. The Sabres have two centers making over $7 million in Tage Thompson and Cozens, and will likely be hesitant to sign another center to a big salary. If Krebs can fit into a third-line role, it might increase the odds of a Mittelstadt trade before the deadline or over the summer.
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