Should the Bruins Consider a Torey Krug Reunion This Offseason.
The Boston Bruins are gearing up for a busy offseason, potentially seeing many familiar faces exploring options elsewhere. With a need to strengthen their defense, the Bruins might see significant changes on their blue line, especially with the possible departures of Derek Forbort, Matt Grzelcyk, and Kevin Shattenkirk. To address this, they could look to bring in additional defensive depth. One player worth monitoring is former Bruin and current St. Louis Blues defenseman Torey Krug.
Krug’s potential availability stems from his eligibility for a buyout from the Blues. Last offseason, he invoked his no-trade clause to block a move to the Philadelphia Flyers. This summer, the Blues might consider a buyout, which would save them money over the next three seasons, though it would also result in an additional cap hit for the following three seasons. Krug is still under contract for three more seasons with a $6.5 million cap hit. A buyout would convert his cap hit to $333,333 for this season, $2.33 million next season, $2.83 million the following season, and $2.33 million for the three years after that, appearing to be a financial win for the Blues.
At 33, Krug isn’t the player he was when he left the Bruins in 2020. During his tenure in Boston, he consistently produced 40 to 50 points per season, missing that mark only once. In his last four seasons with the Bruins, he tallied 51, 59, 53, and 49 points, respectively. Since joining the Blues, he surpassed the 40-point mark just once, with a 43-point season in 2021-22. Last season, he recorded 39 points in 77 games, his worst offensive production since 2014-15 despite playing the most games in a season since 2016-17.
Krug’s Role with the Bruins Would Be Different
Krug has never played a full 82-game season. Before his 77 games in 2023-24, he hadn’t played more than 64 games in a season since 2017-18. As a $6.5 million player, this is a concern. However, as a depth player for a Bruins team looking to revamp its roster, this is less worrisome. The Bruins’ top-six defenders heading into the 2024 offseason include Charlie McAvoy, Hampus Lindholm, Brandon Carlo, Mason Lohrei, Andrew Peeke, and Parker Wotherspoon. Adding Krug in a rotational capacity or as a veteran insurance policy could be beneficial, especially considering his experience and power play expertise.
Krug has previously worked with Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery, who was an assistant coach with the Blues from 2020 to 2022. Krug’s power play skills could be invaluable, given the Bruins’ struggles in that area during the second half of the 2023-24 season and into the playoffs. Montgomery has shown a willingness to adjust his lineup to address issues, and Krug would provide additional options to enhance the power play. The Bruins tend to perform better with a left-shot defender as the primary point player on their power play. If the Bruins want Lohrei to learn from a seasoned player, Krug could be ideal for the role, offering mentorship and guidance.
Krug’s Utilization and Potential Contract
Throughout his career, Krug has been used in a sheltered role, starting most of his shifts in the offensive zone. In St. Louis, 65.8% of his shifts started in the offensive zone, similar to his 69% in Boston. At even strength, these numbers drop slightly to 59.6% and 62.6%, respectively, but the trend remains that Krug is not typically trusted with defensive zone assignments. Given Krug’s age and recent performance, he might be available at a more team-friendly deal than his current contract.
If the Blues buy out Krug, and if he is willing to join the Bruins as their seventh defender on a team-friendly contract, it could be a perfect fit. However, several factors need to align for this to happen. Monitoring situations like this will be crucial for the Bruins this offseason as they aim to make strategic and smart transactions. A Krug reunion could be a beneficial move to start with.
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