Knights On Ice’s 2019-20 preseason Golden Knights Top 25 Under 25 series ranks the top 25 players under the age of 25 currently in Vegas’ system. Six Knights On Ice writers created their own Top 25 Under 25 ballots. Each individual writer’s ballot was then used to generate a composite score that forms the final ballot.
Coming in hot toward the top of our Top 25 Under 25 list is the Vegas Golden Knights’ most recent first-round draft selection Peyton Krebs. Krebs, selected No. 17 overall at the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, entered the draft as one of the top available prospects with many pinning him up in the top 10. Many believe the only reason why Krebs fell to the Golden Knights was due to injury concerns — he suffered a torn Achilles while training prior to the draft. Still, it is expected that Krebs will make a full recovery, and his injury should not affect his play in the long run.
No. 5: Peyton Krebs
Position: C
Age: 18 (January 26, 2001)
Size: 5-foot-11, 181 pounds
Nationality: Canadian
Playing for a bad Winnipeg Ice team during the 2018-2019 season, points weren’t always easy to come by. Still, Krebs was the leading scorer for the Ice, scoring 68 points (19 goals, 49 assists) in 64 games. His 68 points were 16 more than the next highest scorer on his team Jaeger White who scored 52 points.
Krebs wore the “C” for the Ice last season and is set to take on that role again for the upcoming season, which looks to be a big year for the Ice’s debut season in Winnipeg. The Ice are adding some serious talent to the team this season with 2018 WHL No. 2 overall pick Carson Lambos joining the blue line and 2019 WHL No. 1 overall pick Matthew Savoie expecting to suit up this season. With so much young talent joining the roster, Krebs’ role as a mentor will be that much more important.
Krebs is a superb playmaker who likely would have posted more points last season if given better linemates. Do not be fooled by his point totals last season. Krebs’ ceiling is extremely high and he has the potential to be a star in the NHL. His playmaking abilities are truly elite, as he continuously creates high-danger scoring chances on a regular basis.
Despite his offensive talent, though, Krebs is not “just” an offensive minded player. He plays a two-way game that makes him extremely useful at both ends of the ice. You can also find Krebs placed in front of the net screening goalies and working to deflect pucks to create scoring chances as well.
The Golden Knights have a highly skilled player in Krebs, who has the potential to be a key member of the franchise once he makes it to the pros. Not too many people expected Krebs to fall to No. 17 overall at the draft, but Golden Knights fans should be quite thrilled that he did.
Previously in Vegas Golden Knights Preseason 2019 Top 25 Under 25:
- Introduction and honorable mentions
- No. 25, Peter Diliberatore
- No. 24, Xavier Bouchard
- No. 23, Brandon Kruse
- No. 22, Keegan Kolesar
- No. 21, Jack Dugan
- No. 20, Isaiah Saville
- No. 19, Layton Ahac
- No. 18, Jake Leschyshyn
- No. 17, Nicolas Roy
- No. 16, Valentin Zykov
- No. 15, Ivan Morozov
- No. 14, Kaedan Korczak
- No. 13, Pavel Dorofeyev
- No. 12, Dylan Coghlan
- No. 11, Ben Jones
- No. 10, Jonas Rondbjerg
- No. 9, William Carrier
- No. 8, Zach Whitecloud
- No. 7, Jimmy Schuldt
- No. 6, Lucas Elvenes/