Sabres’ Peyton Krebs becomes trusted, versatile asset for Lindy Ruff

BUFFALO – Six and a half months ago, Peyton Krebs sat out the Sabres’ season opener as a healthy scratch. In Thursday’s finale, his 81st consecutive appearance, he centered Alex Tuch and Jason Zucker on a scoring line.

Krebs’ consistent effort and willingness to embrace any task quickly earned him coach Lindy Ruff’s trust. It can be argued Krebs, 24, grew more than any player during Ruff’s first season back behind Buffalo’s bench.

His short-handed breakaway goal in the first period Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers gave him career highs across the board: 10 goals, 18 assists and 28 points.

Of course, Krebs, the 19th overall pick by the Vegas Golden Knights in 2019, possesses a notable skill set. But over his four NHL seasons, he has evolved into a versatile checker whose high motor and penchant for agitating opponents has helped him earn regular duty.

“I think there’s not been a job too big or too small,” Ruff said prior to Thursday’s contest in KeyBank Center. “I think he’s the one guy that embraces every shift when he’s on the ice. It doesn’t matter.

“He’s played almost every position. He’s played up and down the lineup. He’s been on the power play. He’s been on the penalty kill. He’s taken big faceoffs.”

The 6-foot, 186-pound Krebs, who often pivots the fourth line, said he tries to be “a Swiss Army Knife.”

“Whether they need me on the first line or the fourth line, I just try to be … an easy guy for everyone, know when they come on the ice with me, they’re going to get the puck and I’m going to make plays with them,” he said.

Krebs, who has fought four times this season, not counting the time he and teammate Rasmus Dahlin briefly went at it during practice, also regularly makes his presence known to opponents.

“I think defensively, I can shut down a lot those top lines now and I can play a heavy game, too,” he said. “I think I try to be not fun to play against when I’m out there and hit guys, just be a guy that the coach can know he can put out and know what I’m going to do every single time on the ice.”

Ruff said Krebs treats every shift as “an opportunity to help the team.” While Krebs entered the NHL as a high-end prospect, Ruff said he has “had to earn almost everything.”

“From where he came from, where he was drafted, the type of player he was drafted, now to earning his way,” he said. “I can say he tries to earn his way every time he gets on the ice.

“Maybe there’s the odd night there’s a tough play here or there, but almost 95 percent of the time I can tell you what I’m going to get out of him.”

Sabres rookie Noah Ostlund hadn’t recorded a point entering Tuesday’s game, his eighth NHL appearance. Still, the 5-foot-11, 175-pound center has grabbed Ruff’s attention.

“His play away from the puck has been good,” Ruff said. “I think physically, I think a couple of times (he has been) overwhelmed, but his reads and his smarts and his IQ for the game have been real good.

“He’s gotten comfortable making some smaller plays, which is not easy for a guy that’s just getting called up. I think it’s been a good first look for him.

The Sabres scratched defenseman Owen Power (lower body, three games) and forwards Jordan Greenway (lower body, 13 games), Tyson Kozak (hip strain, eight games), Beck Malenstyn (undisclosed, two games) and Josh Norris (mid-body, 18 games).

Norris played just three games for the Sabres after they acquired him March 7 in a trade with the Ottawa Senators.

Ruff and general manager Kevyn Adams are scheduled to hold end-of-season meetings with players Friday and Saturday. Ruff and Adams plan to address the media Saturday afternoon.