The St. Louis Blues got some bad news on Tuesday as general manager Doug Armstrong said veteran defenseman Torey Krug is unlikely to play again due to a severe ankle injury he suffered last summer. The announcement came at the team’s end of season press conference and puts a damper on what has been a great career for the former Boston Bruin.
A Career at Risk After Years of Battling Injury
Armstrong told reporters: “I talked to him, he was at the rink the other day and he’s just getting almost normal day-to-day living with his leg, his ankle. So I’m not expecting him to play again.”
The surgery he had was very, very invasive so there’s not much hope for a comeback. Both Armstrong and Krug are hopeful but reality says otherwise.
Krug himself explained the injury: “I broke my ankle six years ago in the playoffs when I was with Boston. Over the last few years it’s been getting worse and worse. I’ve been able to manage it for so long now. Last year was definitely tough, trying to manage the pain level.”
The Injury That Changed Everything
He told us the injury dates back to the 2018 playoffs when he was still with the Bruins.
“I broke my ankle six years ago now in the playoffs when I was with Boston,” Krug said. “Over the last few years it’s been getting worse and worse.”
For years he managed the pain and played through it but last year was the worst. He couldn’t keep up with the physical demands of the NHL and this summer the pain was too much.
“This summer I wasn’t really able to do the things I needed to do to prepare for the NHL season,” Krug said. “A lot of pain and stuff.”
After more than six weeks of rehab he decided to have surgery to address the “pre-arthritic changes” in his ankle. Unfortunately it’s left him with an uncertain future on the ice.
A Storied NHL Career Comes to a Close
Krug’s career has been pretty amazing. Since breaking in with the Bruins, he’s been one of the most dynamic offensive defensemen of his era. Over 778 games with Boston and St. Louis he’s put up: 89 goals and 394 assists for 483 points.
In 2020, he signed a 7 year, $45.5 million deal with the Blues in free agency – a move that showed he was committed to helping St. Louis be competitive. But injuries have derailed most of his time with the team.
If Krug doesn’t come back to the ice, his career will be over after he fulfills the first 4 years of his contract. He’ll be on long term injured reserve (LTIR) for the last 2 years of his deal and will have a $6.5 million cap hit until it expires in 2027. At that point he can retire and be remembered as one of the best blue liners of his generation.
What’s Next for the Blues?
With Krug’s future uncertain, the Blues will have to figure out what to do with the rest of his contract. If they want to free up roster space they can trade his deal to a cap strapped team that needs LTIR space.
But, even if Krug never plays again, his impact on the ice and in the locker room will be loved by teammates, coaches and fans.
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