JJ Peterka, Peyton Krebs have potential to move up Buffalo Sabres depth chart – The Hockey Writers – Buffalo Sabres

With the recent acquisition of star forward Jeff Skinner, the Buffalo Sabres now have a gaping hole at the top of their roster. While he had a very disappointing season, the winger was one of the team’s biggest offensive contributors and replacing him won’t be easy.

The Sabres were very quiet when free agency opened last week and didn’t make the major signing some expected with the extra financial wiggle room the buyout brought. As such, it’s safe to assume their plan is to promote from within and hope an existing player steps up to fill the void. While it’s definitely a gamble, there are candidates who could pull it off and none stand out more than youngsters John-Jason Peterka and Peyton Krebs.

Peterka had a major breakout season in his second season and will look to build on that, while Krebs will look to show he can do more. With Skinner and other key pieces now gone, the Sabres will need everyone to step up their game and both men should be given bigger roles.

Peterka is ready for a bigger workload

At this point, it’s unclear what new coach Lindy Ruff will do with the Sabres’ roster, as he could completely revamp it, make minor adjustments, or opt to keep it as is. Regardless of what he chooses, there’s no doubt that Tage Thompson will retain his spot as the first-line center, with Alex Tuch remaining alongside him. But with the other wing unrestricted, a few players could be added, but JJ Peterka is the only legitimately viable option.

The German overcame the slump of his sophomore year and took a big step forward in his second season, following a 12-goal, 32-point campaign as a rookie with 28 goals and 50 points. It was a revelation for fans and one of the few bright spots to come out of what was a very dismal season in Buffalo. His emergence did not go unnoticed, with many teammates singing his praises while declaring that he had not even reached his full potential.

Like Skinner, Peterka has shown himself to be a finisher and a shooter, but he’s also proven to have the playmaking skills with his strong skating and vision. Unlike Skinner, though, he’s much more capable defensively, and his plus-10 rating was second among Sabres forwards last season. That will put him in a great position with Ruff, who values ​​strong two-way play and will be tasked with improving the team in that regard.

His abilities would also be a great complement to Thompson and Tuch and could help both bounce back from disappointing performances last year. Former head coach Don Granato briefly elevated Peterka to the top spot late last season and it resulted in a four-game goal streak. If given another chance to play together, the trio could potentially rediscover the same magic that Thompson, Tuch and Skinner found during the 2022-23 season.

For the Sabres to have a chance at making the playoffs for the first time since 2011, they’ll need to find a way to revive their offence and get their big guns firing again. Adding a new weapon to the mix — someone who can play the same style as Tuch and Thompson — could be exactly what the top line needs, and Peterka is the man to do it.

Available roster space gives Krebs a chance to move up

Skinner’s departure presents an opportunity on multiple levels for the Sabres, as Peterka’s potential ascension to the top line would also give another player a chance to be promoted. Of all the players who could be promoted, Peyton Krebs is both the most deserving and the most in need.

It would be understandable if fans forgot that Krebs was actually the centerpiece of Jack Eichel’s comeback. The 17th overall pick in the 2019 draft was a scoring machine during his junior career and was expected to become a major threat for the Sabres who could one day replace Eichel. That hasn’t been the case since he arrived in Buffalo, through no fault of his own.

The 23-year-old has spent the majority of the last two years on the fourth line, primarily alongside Kyle Okposo and Zemgus Girgensons. He was put there so the veterans could help him become a better all-around player, and while he transformed his game, he was left there. The Calgarian has proven his worth as a fiery and disruptive defensive forward, and while he played with a plus-2 rating this season, the lack of offensive exposure has limited him to just four goals, 17 points and an average of 12:30 of ice time per game.

In his usual nonchalant style, Krebs blamed himself for his lack of production, but ultimately no player has control over his placement in the lineup and had he been with more talented teammates, his production almost certainly would have been higher (from “Peyton Krebs faces crucial offseason as he tries to find his footing with Sabres,” Buffalo News17/06/24).

I’ve already argued for Krebs to have a bigger role, and this is the opening he needs. Ruff could very well keep him as a bottom-line mainstay, but continuing that way would be a waste of his skill set. A move to the top six or even regular third-line play would put him in legitimate offensive scenarios that would give him a chance to showcase his speed, skill, and vision. It could also help the Sabres as a whole regain their offensive touch.

Related: Oilers trade Ryan McLeod to Sabres for prospect Matt Savoie

The Sabres’ forward corps is currently clogged. With Girgensons leaving for the Tampa Bay Lightning, general manager Kevyn Adams has made several moves. Among others, Sam Lafferty and Jason Zucker were signed to free agency, while Ryan McCleod was acquired in exchange for Sabres top prospect Matthew Savoie. Krebs is definitely worthy of a promotion, but the competition has become much stiffer.

Krebs, a restricted free agent, has yet to accept the Sabres’ qualifying offer and can accept offers if he declines. He’s unlikely to do so, however, as he told the media late in the season that he was optimistic about what lay ahead.

“I love coming to the rink every day,” he said while cleaning the locker room. “I love Buffalo, the city, I’m going to have my first kid here and all that. Buffalo is my home and it’s exciting. We’re going to win a Stanley Cup, I know we are. And once we do, the fans are going to be excited, so it’s going to be great.”

What will the new Sabres look like?

The 2024-25 season will mark the beginning of a new era for the Buffalo Sabres, as Ruff returns to the franchise he coached for 15 seasons and led to four conference finals and one Stanley Cup Final. Ironically, the Sabres haven’t made the playoffs since his first tenure, and fans will be praying he’s the one to finally get them back there after an NHL-record 13-year absence.

With a host of new players on the roster, the Sabres may not look like last season’s team, and it’s currently unclear what the revamped roster will look like in the fall. The new players brought in will almost certainly fill important roles, but that shouldn’t necessarily come at the expense of the existing roster. For the Sabres to have the best chance of finally getting over the finish line, both Peterka and Krebs should be given a chance.