Photo: Medicine Hat Tigers

The Washington Capitals selected defenseman Dru Krebs in the fifth round (#176 overall) of the NHL Entry Draft on Saturday.

VITALS

• Age: 18
• Position: LHD
• Height: 6′-0″
• Weight: 180lbs
• Shoots: Left

ELITE PROSPECTS

Krebs’ dimension is transition, starting with his skating. He’s more skilled than mechanically-sound, lacking depth, but having a separation gear in the WHL and evasiveness from mohawks, punch turns, and fake pivots/cutbacks. Those skills bring inherent deceptiveness, which he increases with look-offs to mask his intended pass recipient. -EliteProspects 2021 NHL Draft Guide

The Krebs family has already had its share of milestone achievements in the game of hockey, and now it’s Dru’s turn at the draft.

After two strong seasons on the blue line with the Medicine Hat Tigers, Dru Krebs enters this weekend’s NHL Entry Draft ranked 142nd among North American skaters.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling to be considered and ranked on this draft list,” Krebs said in a phone call with the News. “I put in consistent work throughout my life and it just feels rewarding to be noticed for it. In the big scheme of things I’m just trying to put in my work, play the game I love, trying to make the NHL. Getting drafted doesn’t mean I’m going to make the NHL automatically, but it is a pat on the back and really helps you moving forward.”

Krebs has been following in the footsteps of his older brothers, Dakota and Peyton, both of whom charted paths through the Western Hockey League, leading to Peyton being selected 17th overall by the Vegas Golden Knights in 2019. After watching his brother go through the experience on the draft floor, Krebs says he knows he’s in for a bit of a nervous wait.

RANKINGS

VIDEO

More to come…

By Jon Sorensen