Boston Bruins: Why is it vital to extend Torey Krug beyond this year?

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 27: Torey Krug #47 of the Boston Bruins checks Robert Thomas #18 of the St. Louis Blues during the third period in Game One of the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Final at TD Garden on May 27, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 27: Torey Krug #47 of the Boston Bruins checks Robert Thomas #18 of the St. Louis Blues during the third period in Game One of the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Final at TD Garden on May 27, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
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DALLAS, TEXAS - OCTOBER 03: Jamie Benn #14 of the Dallas Stars skates for the puck against Torey Krug #47 of the Boston Bruins in the first period at American Airlines Center on October 03, 2019 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TEXAS – OCTOBER 03: Jamie Benn #14 of the Dallas Stars skates for the puck against Torey Krug #47 of the Boston Bruins in the first period at American Airlines Center on October 03, 2019 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Hometown discounts are never a bad thing

At the beginning of this article I wrote that Bruins fans love a player who wants to play for the city of champions, a player who loves the city of Boston.

Don Sweeney has done an unbelievable job of building a culture focused around winning, and he has been able to get our players to sign team friendly deals in order to make this happen.

This summer it was reported that Torey Krug would be willing to take a hometown discount in order to keep this core group of guys together. How could you not love this?

Does a pay-cut mean that Krug will sign a deal worth less than what he’s making now? No. But it does mean that he would rather continue playing in the city of Boston for the rest of his career and do so while making less money than he would if he entered the free-agency market next summer.

So, what do I want to see? I want Torey Krug signed, and soon. I want a long-term contract in the range of 6 – 7 years at an AAV of 7.75 – 8.50 million.

With the league soon to be entering a new bargaining agreement and TV deal, it will most assuredly result in a raise to each team’s cap ceiling. I think that by the time Krug is 34 years old and about to sign his final contract with Bruins, we as Bruins fans will be very happy with Krug’s return on investment.