When you sit down and think about what it will take to obtain the top-six forward the Bruins so badly need, Torey Krug is usually where it starts.
With secondary scoring being the Bruins biggest need, Krug is an attractive piece for other teams.
He comes with a very friendly $5.25 million cap hit this season and next. He’s still just 27 and is only getting better. He’s grown his game defensively while he continues to shine offensively. He can quarterback your team’s power play and is coming off of a career high 59 points.
I do think that at some point before he hits free agency, the Bruins will put Krug on the table as it will be difficult to pay what the asking price will be for Krug. With Charlie McAvoy and Brandon Carlo restricted free agents at seasons end, the Bruins will have to consider all their options.
But with all that being said, Krug is giving the Bruins the secondary scoring they need.
Since the Bruins lost Patrice Bergeron to injury on November 16th, Krug is third on the team in points with 15, and second on the team in goals with four, one behind David Krejci, Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak who all have five.
This season has been an odd one for Krug. He missed all of training camp and most of the preseason as he recovered from the knee injury suffered in last season’s playoffs. In the Bruins final preseason contest, —just his second of the exhibition season—Krug suffered an unrelated ankle injury that forced him to miss the Bruins first 11 games.
After returning to game action, it took Krug some time to get up to speed and find his game again. But in the last month, Krug has certainly found his game and is helping the Bruins get by in a big way.
“Well, I'm sure he preferred a normal training camp and a normal time to get going, but that’s, you know, it is what it is, you know, he’s adjusted well… head coach Bruce Cassidy said Thursday night following the Bruins 3-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks.
“It took him a little while to find his shooting stride. You're starting to see him score more because of his decisions to shoot the puck in certain spots. Some of that is just the game, comes around you when you're a good player, the pucks finds you a little more.…
On Thursday, in a battle of two of the league’s better defensive teams, Krug was the Bruins offensive backbone with a goal and an assist.
First it was a beautiful no-look pass to Pastrnak for the game’s first tally.
“Yeah, well you know, you saw it on power play. It was a great pass and obviously we’ve been together for a while in that power play, so we’ve got some chemistry and you know, he has 200 apples already for a reason, right? He’s a great player,… Pastrnak said of Krug.
Then it was another a beauty of a pass. This time from Marchand, that led to Krug’s fourth goal of the season.
“Once [Pastrnak] doesn’t shoot the puck and I realize it goes to [Marchand], you got to get down towards the net because the pucks eventually going to get there. [Marchand] made a heck of a pass, and that’s just something we planned out and mapped out before the game,… Krug said.
Krug now has points in three straight games. His assist was the 200th point of his career which propelled Krug past Mike O’Connell for most assists by a U.S-born player in franchise history.
“It means a lot, especially with the great history of this team and all the great players have come through this locker room and put on this sweater,… Krug said. “I’ve played with a lot of good players, been on the receiving end of a lot of good plays, but you can’t get there without a little bit of luck and a lot of hard work.…
With back-to-back injuries luck hasn't been on Krug's side. But his hard work has helped him get back to the top of his game.
Since his return to the lineup, Krug is fifth among all NHL defensemen with 21 points.
It’s no coincidence that with Krug’s increase in offense production, the Bruins offense as a whole has shown improvements. With 10 goals in their last three games, Cassidy hopes the offense is finally turning a corner.
"I see it coming around, got four in Montreal, three in Pittsburgh, three tonight [Thursday]. I’m a little more optimistic in that regard, especially in the last two or three weeks,… added Cassidy.
In a perfect world, Krug is a second paring defenseman at best. A guy who will put up points, but come as a risk in his own end. But with the rash of injuries the Bruins have faced on their blue line this season, Krug has been forced to take on more responsibilities and stiffer competition.
For the most part, he’s succeeded at that as well.
“The defending part, that’s all on, usually on the player makes that decision on how hard they want to defend and that’s something that’s usually will and compete,… said Cassidy. “We’ve played him with [Brandon] Carlo and he’s usually playing against the second line, in general. So he’s done a good job with force there and you know, until we get back to a full boat that’s kind what we ask for him, see how it plays out.…
The Bruins were just under five minutes away from their second straight shutout Thursday night before Josh Mahura scored his first career National Hockey League goal. The defensive effort over the last two games have been two of the Bruins best as we approach the halfway mark of the 2018-19 season.
Krug has been a key in those defensive improvements.
“You’re always looking to improve but I think we’ve locked it down defensively and haven’t given them too many opportunities,… said Krug. “There’s always plays to be made and there’s always little things that we’re trying to change and develop into habits for our group so we’re going to stick with it and continue to try and grow as a team.…
As early as Saturday afternoon, the Bruins could grow as a team literally and figuratively as Patrice Bergeron and Zdeno Chara are steps closer to a return.