Boston Bruins: Improved power-play post-break is largely on Torey Krug

The Boston Bruins have only played two games since the All-Star break but Torey Krug has shone, especially on the power-play.

On the back of the Boston Bruins’ games in Winnipeg and Minnesota, they’re riding a brilliant 62.5% conversion rate on power-plays. Of that power-play time, Torey Krug was on the ice for 78.65% of it and it’s telling that only David Pastrnak has more power-play points (with 5 to Krug’s 3) in that time.

At this point, it’s almost an expectation that Pastrnak leads scoring races, whether a two-game power-play tally or indeed the entire league’s goal-scoring.

Torey Krug, on the other hand, hasn’t quite been up to his usual level this season. Perhaps the burden of knowing he has to negotiate a new contract is weighing him down.

More from Bruins News

• Bruins release Prospects Challenge roster, schedule Tuesday
• Bruins bringing back familiar forward on tryout contract
• The Bruins should take a look at these four free agents
• NHL Network lists Ullmark as sixth-best goalie in the league
• The Lasting Legacy of David Krejci

Prior to the break for All-Star Weekend, Torey Krug was tracking to just about make his now usual points tally on the year, with an expected total around 52 points provided he missed no further game-time.

Now, with the Boston Bruins power-play finding it’s feet once more, Torey Krug is all of a sudden tracking for a first 60-point season in his NHL career.

It’s clear he is a vital component of the Boston Bruins powerplay, not just because they struggled when he missed games, but also because he tallies points at a really solid rate in his quarter-back role.

Among all players, he sits eighth in the league with his 22 powerplay points this season. Among defenseman, he is the best in the league.

All in all, 59% of his points this year have been a result of the Boston Bruins having the man-advantage. Krug reads the game especially well in this scenarios and it shows; typically when he’s playing well, the power-play plays well too!

Obviously, this is a big year for him and he’ll be wanting to maximise his points total. Every extra point could increase his summer dollar value.

When you look at the Bruins roster, it’s hard to see who becomes the new power-play quarterback; he routinely performs that well that he becomes incredibly difficult to replace.

The biggest question everyone has is will he be wearing a Boston Bruins jersey next year or will Torey Krug inevitably price himself out of a renewal?