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Boston Bruins: Serious Time Out After Surgery

By Andrew Thompson

Nov 14, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman Torey Krug (47) skates with the puck during the third period against the Detroit Red Wings at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 14, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman Torey Krug (47) skates with the puck during the third period against the Detroit Red Wings at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Boston Bruins announced today that three members of the team had successful surgeries to repair injuries sustained during the 2015-16 season. David Krejci, Torey Krug, and Matt Beleskey all had operations performed on them and will be out of action for various lengths of time.

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From the Boston Bruins Homepage:

“Beleskey’s surgery on his left hand was performed by Dr. Matthew Leibman at Newton-Wellesley Hospital on April 14, 2016. His recovery time is expected to be six weeks. Beleskey completed his first season with the Bruins in 2015-16 and established career highs with 80 games played, 22 assists, 37 points and 65 penalty minutes. He finished tied for fifth on the team in goals (15), fifth on the team in penalty minutes and tied for seventh on the team in points. Beleskey also led the team and ranked eighth in the NHL with 260 hits. 

Krejci’s surgery on his left hip was performed by Dr. Bryan Kelly at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, NY on April 25, 2016. His recovery time is expected to be five months. Krejci finished his 10th season with the Bruins in 2015-16 after being drafted by the club in the second round (63rd overall) of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. He led the team with 46 assists, tied for second on the team with 63 points and finished fourth on the team with 17 goals in 72 games played.

Krug’s surgery on his right shoulder was performed by Bruins Head Team Physician, Dr. Peter Asnis, at Massachusetts General Hospital on April 21, 2016. His recovery time is expected to be six months. Krug finished his third full season with the Bruins in 2015-16, establishing career highs with 81 games played, 40 assists, 44 points and 33 penalty minutes. His 40 assists ranked second on the team, while his 44 points ranked sixth among all Bruins players.”

This is looking like a repeat of last year all over again. The Bruins will likely not have either Krug or Krejci back by opening night.

This means the Bruins blueline will start off with another rough amalgam of AHL players, rookies, and players who are past their prime. (Zdeno Chara certainly looked slowly last season, and Dennis Seidenberg looked nearly invisible.) Now, the Bruins may have to wonder if they’ll give up a potential first-round pick to get themselves a qualified NHL blueliner during the offseason.

David Krejci’s absence on opening night will certainly give Ryan Spooner his shot at playing top-six center. Spooner has shown he can handle the workload, and this will be his best chance to purge all the ugly feelings Claude Julien has about him.

Thankfully, Matt Beleskey (who was probably the best surprise for the Bruins last season) will be ready to go for opening night. Hopefully, Krug and/or Krejci will rehab ahead of schedule and will be ready to go before the start of the 2016-17 season.

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