2019 NHL Draft: Vegas Golden Knights select Peyton Krebs – Twitter reacts
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…
The Vegas Golden Knights selected Peyton Krebs with the 17th pick in the #NHLDraft.
— The Athletic NHL (@TheAthleticNHL) June 22, 2019
Get to know the Krebs family: https://t.co/tWqGpVxPzE pic.twitter.com/SVgGyBUc8V
Vegas Golden Knights pick Peyton Krebs. Love him. Should have been a top 10 pick. Fell because of an Achilles injury. Isn't expected to miss any time. At 17, was his team captain. Love his hockey IQ. #NHLDraft
— Puck Prose (@Puck_Prose) June 22, 2019
As far as Krebs’ Achilles tear: McCrimmon said the Golden Knights staff did a lot of due diligence, speaking with the surgeon who did the procedure.
— Jesse Granger (@JesseGranger_) June 22, 2019
He said they will know a lot more for a timeline when he gets to Vegas this week.
Get acquainted with the newest member of the Vegas Golden Knights, Peyton Krebs.
— Elite Prospects (@eliteprospects) June 22, 2019
Krebs has done nothing but fight through adversity all year long and it didn't stop at the Draft.
On @EPRinkside, @AAVickers spoke to the 17th pick in the Draft. #VegasBornhttps://t.co/7xf0LzG9FD pic.twitter.com/OAxsRCHsZK
Vegas Golden Knights select Peyton Krebs. pic.twitter.com/mNm8yfCHn0
— Rink Rat Report (@RinkRatReport) June 22, 2019
Solid pick and value for the Vegas Golden Knights. #NHLDraft
— GC 🍁 (@AIMforGC) June 22, 2019
Vegas finally takes Krebs. Do all the other NHL GM's have an agreement to keep giving the Golden Knights freebies?
— Donesh Mazloum (@DMaz16) June 22, 2019
"I wanted to go to a place where I get the shivers every time I walk in the building. So, I think Vegas will do that. I'm pretty pumped." - Krebs on his excitement to play in Vegas. #VegasBorn
— Ryan The Hockey Guy (@RyanHockeyGuy) June 22, 2019
Peyton Krebs has been selected 17th overall by the @GoldenKnights in the 2019 #NHLDraft Congratulations !#HockeyCanada #VegasBorn @HockeyAlberta pic.twitter.com/Y0zeoJCSMQ
— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) June 22, 2019
Krebs would have been a top 10 player in this draft, had he not suffered a partially torn Achilles. He will be overcooked, and rehabbed, before he makes an impact for the Golden Knights. Patience will be virtuous. #VegasBorn
— Ryan The Hockey Guy (@RyanHockeyGuy) June 22, 2019
Kelly McCrimmon said he and the Golden Knights staff had Peyton Krebs rated much higher than 17th.
— Jesse Granger (@JesseGranger_) June 22, 2019
When he was still on the board when they got on the clock it was an automatic pick. #VegasBorn
Golden Knights first-round pick Peyton Krebs: "I think I'm a 200-foot player that can bring a lot of skill and I think I bring speed and hockey IQ to the game. Just make the team better, make my teammates around me better and help the team win." #VegasBorn
— David Schoen 🗞 (@DavidSchoenLVRJ) June 22, 2019
Golden Knights take Peyton Krebs with the #17 pick. Center, captain for Team Canada at the World Juniors. He dropped a lot based on projections, and this appears to be a terrific value pick for VGK #VegasBorn
— Justin Emerson (@J15Emerson) June 22, 2019
McPhee on Krebs: "Like the speed, like the character, play making ability, there was risk in what we do, but we're comfortbale in that risk, we feel we got a top-10 player at 17."#VegasBorn
— Vince Sapienza (@VinceSapienza) June 22, 2019
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.