They've embraced the role of mentor and imparted some of that wisdom on guys like Krebs. Okposo and Girgensons are at the core of it. There's a noticeably different vibe around the Sabres dressing room these days. "The amount I've learned from those two is more than I could ever ask from them," Krebs said. 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. In the off chance his attention does stray, he's got Girgensons and Okposo to reel him back in. "At some points I probably put a little too much pressure on myself to perform. ![]() "Coming into the season I had a lot of high expectations for myself," Krebs said. 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. Krebs was drafted 17th overall in the 2019 NHL Draft and accepts that comes with certain responsibilities. I think we hemmed teams in more than we scored sometimes." "I think with that, we got a lot of chances. "The old cliché is the best defense is your best offense," Krebs said. It started with building a foundation of trust through his defense and blossomed into an asset for the Sabres in all three zones. But Krebs wasn't just handed that assignment, he earned it. His line with Okposo and Girgenson is frequently matched up against the opponent's best. "Just trying to make my impact on the game if I'm not scoring a goal." "It's good and bad sometimes," Krebs said. 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. He's not exactly approaching Rob Ray's status, a brooding enforcer who amassed 3,189 penalty minutes in a Sabres sweater.īut there is value for Krebs in getting under his opponents' skin. He only took two major penalties this season, compared to 18 of the minor variety. Krebs' real calling card is his defense and playmaking. ![]() "Which, he thinks, is the greatest league in the world." "He gave me one of his WHL cards, because he wanted to get in on the action," Thompson said. 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. Tacked in the back of Tage Thompson's stall is a collection of hockey cards. If Krebs' way of showing affection for his teammates is by mucking it up, his teammates have a milder way of expressing their appreciation.
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