Torey Krug Gains Momentum As Big Season Looms
Fresh off a bronze medal win for Team USA at the IIHF World Championships in May and a sophomore NHL season in which his playing time rose more than two minutes per game over his rookie campaign, Torey Krug is primed for a big year for the Bruins.
And the B’s will be counting on it.
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With Dougie Hamilton traded this offseason, Krug returns as the team’s only legit power play quarterback. Last year he and Hamilton formed a dynamic, potent 1-2 punch heading the two special teams units and were the team’s leading scoring defensemen by far. With Hamilton gone, the 24-year old Krug likely will assume a larger share of the team’s puck carrying and power play responsibilities unless a newcomer like free agent addition Matt Irwin or burning-at-the-ready AHL prospects Colin Miller and Joe Morrow can step forward to help.
Krug is entering a contract season and has had success at every level – the latest being the surprise Bronze medal win by a young upstart USA team for which he put up five points, led the power play, played strong in all situations including the penalty kill and displayed the leadership he’s known for since his days as captain at Michigan State – it’s a good bet to count on the young blueliner continuing his ascent up the NHL charts.
Boston defenseman Torey Krug skates during warm-ups before playing the Penguins on March 14, 2015 in Pittsburgh. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
A testament to the heart and pride Krug plays with, to go with his skating, skill and hard shot, can be found in the two-year offer he turned down last year (and $3.5 million with it) to take just a one-year deal so he has the chance to go out and really prove this season that he’s a top-4 NHL defenseman. “My whole career I’ve been betting on myself, so it’s another opportunity to do that,” Krug told the Boston Globe at the time. “I just want to expand my role.”
While clearly Krug’s bread and butter is bringing the puck up the ice, passing and firing shots from the point on the power play, he plays quick and smart positionally on defense and often with a toughness and will that belies his 5’9”, 181-lb size. During the thick of the battle, he even took on two much bigger players in fights last year and held his own.
It’s these types of character traits and desire to continually get better that pushed Krug over the top at each level and caught the Bruins’ eye in 2012 when they reportedly competed with several teams to secure his services as an undrafted free agent after three highly successful seasons at Michigan State – which included a CCHA Player of the Year award and share of the conference scoring title. “The thing I liked about him and respected so much is his passion for the game, his understanding of the game, what he could do and what his strength was,” Spartan head coach Rick Comley told USA Hockey Magazine. “He came and played hard every night. [He was] a real positive guy.”
Krug’s recent Team USA experience playing with fellow upcoming stars Brock Nelson and Jack Eichel, and being matched against other teams’ top lines should give him momentum going into the year. His increase in minutes last season for the Bruins to nearly 20 per game (19:36) and finishing tied for second in plus/minus at +13 further bode well for his continued improvement defensively.
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Krug’s offense should rise, too. He missed four games early on with a broken finger and seemed to be hampered for several more before his shot came back. He still finished with 12 goals and 39 points and second on the B’s in shots, following up a solid rookie campaign in which he put up 40 points and finished 4th for the Calder. The new 3-on-3 overtime this season is also well-suited for Krug’s speed, puck-moving abilities and quick shot on the fly.
Fans should expect to see number 47 tapped often, and hopefully witness more of the same traits that endeared him to Boston’s faithful in the 2013 playoffs when he burst on the scene with a blistering one-timer, nifty moves from the point and the ability to skate out of trouble in his own end to create offense. And if his continued progression and will to compete are any indicators, additional accomplishments may not only be coming from the offensive side of the ice.