Experience is the Best Teacher for Peyton Krebs

Peyton Krebs knows a thing or three about being in a bubble.
During a time when normalcy has been scarce, Krebs has found ways to turn the abnormal to his advantage as the 2019 first-round pick continues his growth within the Vegas Golden Knights organization.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic stopped the world in its tracks in March of 2020, Krebs has had what he calls a "whirlwind year" during which he's been part of three hockey bubbles, played for four teams, represented his country, helped launch a franchise and realized his dream of playing in the NHL.

Krebs' whirlwind year began in July when he was invited to Vegas' training camp ahead of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs in the bubble in Edmonton. Though he didn't appear in a game during the postseason, Krebs was part of every practice the Golden Knights held during their 51 days in the bubble.
"That was an unbelievable experience for me," Krebs said. "I got to know a lot of the guys and I got to know the coaching staff in Vegas which is huge for me. That's going to be a big steppingstone for me in my career. It helped me take a step forward."
With the end of the NHL bubble came another bubble for Krebs as he was named to Canada's 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship roster. The forward went from the rookie soaking in everything he could with the Golden Knights to the veteran who had already spent nearly two months in the very hotel Team Canada was stationed at for the tournament.
Krebs entered the tournament with nervous excitement. He was cut from the 2020 team and watched from home as Canada scored three goals in the third period of the final game to win the gold medal. The 2021 tournament was an opportunity for Krebs to show that his progression as a player could translate to a major international stage.
"I got cut the year before, so I was a little bit on my toes," Krebs said. "You never know what can happen. You just want to live in the moment and work your hardest."
After two of his teammates tested positive for COVID-19, Krebs and Team Canada were confined to their hotel rooms for two weeks while they determined whether the virus had spread throughout the team. Those circumstances brought new challenges as the players had to work out, take virtual meetings and prepare for the tournament from their solitary space.
"You have to remember what you're there for," Krebs said. "Why am I working out in my hotel room? It's because I want to win a gold medal. You have to look at the bigger picture in those moments."
When the quarantine period passed, the team was on the ice twice a day trying to hone its game in time for the start of competition. Going from long Zoom calls about team strategy to actual on-ice execution was a welcome change for Krebs as he posted three points (2G, 1A) in the team's opening-game 16-2 win against Germany.
Krebs rolled offensively during the World Junior Championship as he notched eight points (3G, 5A) in seven games en route to a silver medal. Though gold was the objective, the experience was another steppingstone for Krebs in his development.
After spending all of two days at home after the tournament, Krebs was on his way back to southern Nevada. He'd missed Golden Knights training camp while he was with Team Canada, but he took part in training camp with the Henderson Silver Knights as the AHL's newest team geared up for its first season. Though he played just five games for the Silver Knights, Krebs recorded five points (1G, 4A) and got to compare himself against professionals for the first time. Under guidance from Head Coach Manny Viveiros, Krebs found his footing in yet another new experience.
"It was a really good group to be part of at the start," Krebs said. "Manny put me in a good position to succeed and I tried to make the most of it. At the start, you're not always sure how a player coming from junior hockey is going to do at the pro level. I just wanted to prove to them that I could play here, and I could excel."
Krebs was roommates with forward Dylan Sikura during his time in Henderson and found that teaching doesn't have to come from just the coaches. Sikura gave Krebs a piece of advice that he kept with him all season and will look to as he continues to work toward making the Golden Knights roster full-time.
"I was thinking 'when can I get called up?' and 'when can I make the jump to the NHL?'" Krebs said. "He told me not to worry about that and to just keep working hard. A lot of times, you can get caught up on reading things or trying to do too much. At the end of the day, you're going to get there when you get there. You have to focus on what you can do now to help you get there in the future."
That advice came in handy for Krebs when he was reassigned to the Winnipeg Ice of the WHL after his stint in Henderson. Krebs returned to his junior team for his fifth season with the Ice and third as team captain.
While Krebs would have liked to stay with the Silver Knights and continue working toward an NHL call-up, he used his time in Winnipeg to share some of the wisdom he picked up at the professional level with his teammates in junior.
Krebs cited guidance he received from Cale Fleury who was an older player in the Ice organization when he got his start in junior hockey. Fleury, now a member of the Seattle Kraken, played with Krebs for parts of two seasons before turning professional. As the older player in the locker room last season, Krebs shared his experiences with players like Connor McLennon and Carson Lambos who were both selected in the 2021 NHL Draft.
"I wanted to go back there, take all of my knowledge and give as much of it as I could to them," Krebs said.
After being held without a point in his first game back with the Ice, Krebs rattled off a 23-game point streak which saw him post 43 points (13G, 30A). When his season came to an end, Krebs finally received the NHL promotion he'd been hoping for all season. He joined the Golden Knights on a road trip in Arizona and made his NHL debut two nights later at Xcel Energy Center against the Minnesota Wild.
The fact that Krebs had not yet played an NHL game didn't matter when he showed up to join the Golden Knights. He already had relationships with players and coaches from his time with the team in the bubble. He lived with Mark Stone for five months while he was in Vegas working his way back from an injury. The only difference was it was finally Krebs' turn to pull the sweater over his head and test his skills in the best league in the world.
As is customary with all rookies, Krebs took the ice first in warmups with no helmet on and enjoyed two laps by himself as he soaked the moment in. He'd seen players do that in Calgary when he grew up going to Flames games with his family. The moment triggered emotions of pride and achievement for Krebs, and he had to remind himself to stay in the moment and focus on the game at hand.
"I just wanted to keep it simple and work hard," Krebs said. "Don't get scored on. That was the big thing. Don't take a minus."
Krebs posted an assist in 9:05 of action in his first game and played another 13:57 two nights later against the Wild. On May 7, Krebs played his first home game as a Golden Knight. He'd been to games in person before during time spent in Vegas, but his first home game gave Krebs a chance to experience the best home ice advantage in the NHL.
"That was unbelievable," Krebs said. "In warmups, I could barely hear because the music was so loud and that got me fired up. I'd watched probably 20 games when I was injured and every time I was in the stands, I got the shivers when the helmet came down to the ice and the guys came out. I still get those shivers to this day."
In his fourth NHL game, a puck caught Krebs in the face and broke his jaw. His whirlwind season came to an end, but the experiences at the NHL, AHL, World Junior and WHL levels shaped a unique year that most 20-year-old players never get to experience. He learned what his coaches want from him, what his teammates expect of him and what it takes to make it as a player and a person in professional hockey.
While Krebs still has lessons to learn as he prepares for his first full season in professional hockey, his experiences through the last 12 months - especially the time spent in bubbles - reminded him of why he loves the game so much.
"That's why I play sports," Krebs said. "When you're playing sports, you don't think about anything else. You're living in the moment. You're breathing it in. You're doing what you do, no matter what sport it is. You have to stay focused. When you're just sitting in a hotel, your mind wanders so much. You miss that engagement, that competitiveness, that drive that makes you feel like you have the lungs and the legs to go forever. The passion for the game fuels your body. You can take it for granted sometimes."