Before every prospect profile I write, I take one last glance at my notes on a draft eligible prospect, just to refresh myself on how my thoughts on the player have progressed over the year. This little nugget in particular stood out to me as I overview my thoughts on Peyton Krebs:

Krebs’ exceptional play on one of the CHL’s worst teams truly was something to behold. Night after night I came away with positive impressions, firmly believing he has potential to become an impact player at the NHL level.

Many top-tier draft picks come with risk, at the end we are projecting teenagers on how they’ll perform in the best league in the world. I don’t put a tremendous amount of stock in a player’s floor, but I do feel this is noteworthy to put out there: Kaapo Kakko and Peyton Krebs are the only two players this year that I am highly confident will become impact players in the NHL, carrying next-to-no risk. Both players are tremendously skilled, own great compete levels, and are offensively creative and dynamic at an elite level with no holes in their game. I can’t say that about any other player in this year’s draft.

You’ll hear a lot about Krebs’ relentless motor, how he is one of the draft’s toughest competitors. While I feel his compete level is a touch overrated by some, there is no denying the tenacity he plays with. Every shift you get an honest effort in all three zones. He is another one of those kids who plays the game the right way. He doesn’t cheat out of the zone early, rather helping out defensively and transitioning from there. Many of his zone entries came directly off a zone exit.

As a transition player I feel Krebs has been criminally underrated. He plays with a different dimension then others from this draft class, be it by shifting gears, blazing though the zone, or playing an east-west game. He changes things up and that type of diversity can be unpredictable for defenders in the moment. I’ve really come to appreciate the fact that he isn’t looking to burn someone every shift. He plays smart at a quick pace, making him a dynamic offensive talent. He owns deceptively fast speed, not needing to put everything in it to reach top-gear. His hands don’t blow you away but they get the job done and complement his transition approach well.

That last clip from the montage above in particular is why I love the way Krebs plays. He plays with a “I want it more than you” mentality and enforces it. He plays like a winner. The way he leads by example is every thing I want in the face of my franchise.

What the plays above also depict is the selfishness he can have (in a good way). He is a top playmaker in this draft but he has the will to take things upon himself and make a play. On such a poor team in the WHL, that kind of play style was emphasized.

Speaking of Krebs’ playmaking on a bad team…he really made the most of a bad situation. Kootenay (now Winnipeg) got pounded routinely because of their lack of talent. Krebs carried the team on his shoulders, elevating the play of both himself and his teammates. I can’t help but think if he had some more quality teammates his talents would be more appreciated. He used his intelligence and vision to create for others, being a dominant player off the cycle. Down-ice his vision is tremendous, having the ability to complete stretch passes.

But there was only so much Krebs could do for the WHL’s second worst team. His production took a hit — registering 19 goals and 68 points in 64 games — which puts him behind other WHL products such as Bowen Byram, Dylan Cozens, Kirby Dach, and Brayden Tracey. But I believe if you put Krebs on a half-way decent team his numbers would see a substantial increase.

Krebs truly is the most underappreciated talent from the 2019 NHL draft. He does it all. You name it and he’s got it. Dynamic offensive ability? Check. Top-end playmaking? Yup. Tireless work ethic? All day, everyday. His upside is slightly lower than those above him in my rankings, which is why he lands at number 7, but don’t be fooled — he is a sure-fire top-5 talent. One of my favorites for this years draft. The kid is a beast.

The hockey gods were unkind to Krebs, with news coming out that he recently sustained a partially torn Achilles during offseason training. He had surgery on June 7 and his recovery time will most likely bleed into next season. It’s really a shame, as Krebs was one of the few players I thought could step into the NHL right away. This will almost certainly set him back. He’ll need to return to the WHL to get back up to speed.

A return to western Canada would be quite interesting. With the Ice now relocated to Winnipeg, Krebs will be playing for a team on the rise. Winnipeg has made massive strides this offseason, managing to sign Matthew Savoie who many consider to be an elite prospect eligible for the 2022 NHL draft. However, Savoie will be restricted to under 40 games next season because of league limitations on 15-year-old players. Realistically, they will be competing for a final playoff spot.

So it won’t be the end of the world for Krebs as it once looked to be. Assuming he will be fully healthy, I see no reason why can’t be a legitimate threat to win the Calder Trophy in the 2020-21 season. Long-term, I project him to develop into a number one pivot who can play in all situations and wear a letter on his sweater one day.