Torey Krug Deserves A Big Raise From The Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins have made several big mistakes in the last few years. They got rid of potential career players like Johnny Boychuk and Dougie Hamilton for little or no return. They’ve overpaid veteran players who haven’t produced enough for the team outside the locker room. Now, they’re handing out large chunks of cash for their bottom defensive players. It’s enough to make a Black and Gold fan rip their hair out.
Bruins defenseman Torey Krug is about to become a restricted free-agent. Krug has been one of those players that has fought and scraped for everything he has during his NHL career. He’s become the B’s most reliable puck-moving defenseman, and on several occasions has been put on the fourth forward line for Boston.
He’s also been known to fill-in as an emergency goaltender from time to time. He’s just that versatile.
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Torey Krug was paid $3.4 million for his services last year. While his goal production wasn’t that great (only four goals), he did help put up 44 points for the Black and Gold last season. He ended up second in on-average ice time for a defenseman, and he proved to the Bruins front office and to the fans that he was ready to be a top-four defenseman in Boston.
Krug’s next raise will be based partially on his performance (see above) and partially on the Bruins signing Kevan Miller and Adam McQuaid to surprisingly generous contracts. It won’t be surprising at all to see Torey Krug end up with a high-four/low-five million dollar deal. He’s earned a raise, and it would be insulting to offer him less than that while saying Miller and McQuaid are worth what the Bruins think they are.
Keeping Krug is a no-brainer. He’s proved he can put in the minutes. He passed Dennis Seidenberg and is now the number two defenseman the B’s have. He’s certainly the best puck-moving d-man for Boston, and one of the more versatile players the team has.
Krug could be one of those players that ends up wearing an ‘A’ for Boston once Patrice Bergeron takes the captaincy. He could also be one of those career players if he keeps playing the way he does. Hopefully, the Bruins organization will see that and award Krug properly.