Krebs embraced physical, defensive role in 2022-23

Take one look at Sabres forward Peyton Krebs and the term "enforcer" might not be the first adjective that comes to mind.
"I was getting a hard time in the locker room that I wasn't tough," Krebs said during the Sabres' locker room cleanout. "So, I was like 'Alright, I'll show you guys tough.'"
The 5-foot-11, 180-pound center may not look the part, but he has no qualms about sticking up for a teammate when it's warranted. Although "agitator" might be the more appropriate label.
"I'm a Western leaguer so I've got to live up to that," Krebs said. "I just like sticking up for my teammates if I need to. I love mixing things up out there and just trying to make the game a little more fun."

If Krebs' way of showing affection for his teammates is by mucking it up, his teammates have a milder way of expressing their appreciation.
Tacked in the back of Tage Thompson's stall is a collection of hockey cards. Assistant coaches Jason Christie and Marty Wilford adorn the 40-goal scorer's locker but perched in between them - in the same manner in which he centers a line with Kyle Okposo and Zemgus Girgenson - is Krebs.

"He gave me one of his WHL cards, because he wanted to get in on the action," Thompson said. "Which, he thinks, is the greatest league in the world."
Krebs' real calling card is his defense and playmaking. He only took two major penalties this season, compared to 18 of the minor variety. He's not exactly approaching Rob Ray's status, a brooding enforcer who amassed 3,189 penalty minutes in a Sabres sweater.
But there is value for Krebs in getting under his opponents' skin. Sporting a "Violent Gentleman" T-shirt as he addressed the media for the final time this season, Krebs acknowledged it was a role he embraced throughout the season.

"It's good and bad sometimes," Krebs said. "Just trying to make my impact on the game if I'm not scoring a goal."
His line with Okposo and Girgenson is frequently matched up against the opponent's best. But Krebs wasn't just handed that assignment, he earned it. It started with building a foundation of trust through his defense and blossomed into an asset for the Sabres in all three zones.
"The old cliché is the best defense is your best offense," Krebs said. "I think with that, we got a lot of chances. I think we hemmed teams in more than we scored sometimes."
Krebs was drafted 17th overall in the 2019 NHL Draft and accepts that comes with certain responsibilities. Part of the trade that sent Jack Eichel and a third-round pick to Vegas in exchange for Alex Tuch and a 2022 first rounder, which the Sabres used to draft Noah Ostlund, he's trying to take it all in stride while not making things harder on himself.
"Coming into the season I had a lot of high expectations for myself," Krebs said. "At some points I probably put a little too much pressure on myself to perform. I wanted to be great for the team."
In the off chance his attention does stray, he's got Girgensons and Okposo to reel him back in. It's understandable for Krebs to want to perform, but the second a player starts gripping the stick too tight the game becomes a grind.
"The amount I've learned from those two is more than I could ever ask from them," Krebs said.
It's not just about hockey, either. There's a noticeably different vibe around the Sabres dressing room these days. Okposo and Girgensons are at the core of it. They've embraced the role of mentor and imparted some of that wisdom on guys like Krebs.
"I want to have a family like him (Okposo) one day. It's pretty special to see the passion he brings towards them," Krebs said. "Zemgus is the same way. His family and the way he approaches every day is absolutely incredible."
Krebs also makes it a point to learn from other around the league. Whether he's reviewing clips of his most recent shifts or studying up on the League's best, a date with the television offers a chance to brush up on some of the finer points of the game.
"I think video is something I really utilized this year and I'm going to continue to do that," Krebs said. "I think I try to focus on the star players as much as I can because they seem to be doing the right thing. We watched a lot of Bergeron, a lot of guys like that to allow myself to see what they do to make them great."
"I'm just going to go into the summer like I always do," he added. "Get better stronger, faster and come in here next year ready to go."