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Boston Bruins: What are the options with Torey Krug?

By Cameron Burgess

BOSTON, MA - JUNE 12: Torey Krug #47 of the Boston Bruins warms up before the game against the St. Louis Blues in Game Seven of the Stanley Cup Final during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the TD Garden on June 12, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - JUNE 12: Torey Krug #47 of the Boston Bruins warms up before the game against the St. Louis Blues in Game Seven of the Stanley Cup Final during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the TD Garden on June 12, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – JANUARY 17: David Pastrnak #88 and Torey Krug #47 of the Boston Bruins warm up before the game against the St. Louis Blues at the TD Garden on January 17, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – JANUARY 17: David Pastrnak #88 and Torey Krug #47 of the Boston Bruins warm up before the game against the St. Louis Blues at the TD Garden on January 17, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Option 2: Sign Krug to an extension

Even though there is still a year remaining on his current deal, signing Torey Krug to an extension this off-season creates some stability for the future. There’s always a risk that the Krug could demand a big contract on the open market, something that the Boston Bruins would likely be unable to afford to match.

If the Bruins were to agree on a new contract with Krug, that deal would kick in for the 2020-21 season; it’s already looking like next summer will be another busy summer for the Boston Bruins as the contracts of numerous players including Jake Debrusk, Charlie Coyle, Matt Grzelcyk and Jaroslav Halak are set to expire.

While that may seem a bit chaotic, there is some good news. The 2019-20 season is also the last one where the Bruins are stuck paying the retained salary on Matt Belesky‘s contract and Dennis Seidenberg‘s buyout. With both of those contracts off the books, it frees up just over $3 million that the Bruins can put towards new contracts.

If the Bruins see Torey Krug as a part of their future, they would be wise to lock him up before other teams have the chance to drive up his asking price. In the end, it all comes down to whether or not Krug wants to be in Boston. We’ve seen star players take contracts below market value in order to stay in Boston long-term and to make it all work it’s likely that Krug would need to do the same.

It’s tough to estimate what Krug’s next contract would look like; the best comparable may well be the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Jake Gardiner when he hits unrestricted free agency, although Krug has managed to survive a few more Game 7’s than him!

Krug has been one of the highest scorers on the Bruins during his time with the team, and his offensive production would not be easily replaced should Krug end up on a new team anytime soon.

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