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2019 NHL Draft: Vegas Golden Knights select Peyton Krebs – Twitter reacts

By Andrew Steele-Davis |
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - JUNE 21: (L-R) President of Hockey Operations George McPhee, Peyton Krebs, 17th overall pick of the Vegas Golden Knights, and general manager Kelly McCrimmon pose onstage for a photo during the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena on June 21, 2019 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - JUNE 21: (L-R) President of Hockey Operations George McPhee, Peyton Krebs, 17th overall pick of the Vegas Golden Knights, and general manager Kelly McCrimmon pose onstage for a photo during the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena on June 21, 2019 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA – JUNE 21: Peyton Krebs, 17th overall pick of the Vegas Golden Knights poses for a portrait during the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena on June 21, 2019 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA – JUNE 21: Peyton Krebs, 17th overall pick of the Vegas Golden Knights poses for a portrait during the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena on June 21, 2019 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Friday was quite the night as the Vegas Golden Knights gained an elite playmaker in Peyton Krebs during the first round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.

Picking No.17, the Vegas Golden Knights were expected to pick from players in the ilk of center Ryan Suzuki or Mississauga Steelheads defenseman Thomas Harley.

However, on a night filled with dramatic shocks and where a slew of high-tend offensive talent were left on the board until late, the Knights found themselves with Peyton Krebs in their lap.

The 18-year-old center, who can also thrive out on the left wing, was expected to be taken inside the top ten and was as high as eight on some draft boards and mock drafts.

But a slight Achilles tear sustained in June appeared to put some teams off, although Vegas will have no complaints after replenishing their farm system with a stud forward.

Cody Glass was the only real high-end center sitting on the prospects depth chart, but now the Knights can sit back and get excited at the thought of a potent Glass and Krebs one-two punch in the future.

Not only is Krebs a consistent and deadly points producer – he totalled 19 goals and 49 assists for 68 points for a bad Kootenay Ice team in 2018-19 – he relishes the defensive side of the game and will be a key weapon as a shutdown forward on the penalty kill.

He’s also a natural leader both in the locker room and on the ice having worn the ‘C’ for both Kootenay and Canada U18’s, making him the perfect character type to slot into the locker room.

Put it simply, Krebs ticks all of the boxes for the Vegas Golden Knights and the rest of the NHL could be left cursing their luck if the playmaker lives up to his high potential.

On a night where there was plenty, here’s how the experts and the rest of Twitter reacted to the Golden Knights selecting Peyton Krebs with the No.17 overall pick…

Next. Vegas Golden Knights strike gold with Peyton Krebs. dark

The action continues today with Rounds two through seven getting underway from 10 am PT / 1 pm ET, and it will be a busy day for the Golden Knights who have eight picks left, including three third round selections.

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