Buffalo Sabres must end the Peyton Krebs first-line experiment

Buffalo Sabres forward Peyton Krebs | Ben Ludeman/GettyImagesIt's easy to understand why Peyton Krebs has been a favorite of recent Buffalo Sabres coaches, whether it be Lindy Ruff or Don Granato. He's a hardworking, versatile forward who competes every shift and understands his defensive assignments.

Here's the problem: Krebs is an offensive black hole.

The 24-year-old Canadian's 5-on-5 attacking metrics have been among the worst by a full-time NHL forward since his arrival to Buffalo in the 2021 Jack Eichel trade. That's remained the case this season, as evidenced by his HockeyViz profile.

That's a pressing issue because Krebs has recently been elevated to the Sabres' top line because of…