With hockey shutdown for the foreseeable future, I will do my best to provide you all with interesting and engaging content as we all look to pass time until the great game of hockey returns.
My thoughts are the same as many. As much as this absolutely stinks, shutting down the NHL—and all other major sports—was 100% the right decision and really the only logical one.
Nothing is more important than the health of the players, team and arena staff and fans.
With many questions surrounding the NHL and what lies ahead for the remainder of the regular season and eventually the playoffs, many questions surround the Bruins and several of their players.
Until hockey returns, I am going to post several different would you rather questions surrounding the Bruins.
I encourage you to chime in with your thoughts and which option you rather the Bruins go with.
Would you rather...sign Torey Krug for $7+ Million a year, or let him sign elsewhere in free agency?
The biggest offseason question that awaits the Bruins—whenever that may be—surrounds Torey Krug. Set to be an Unrestricted Free Agent this summer, Krug will undoubtedly sign a lucrative contract.
Whether that’s in Boston or somewhere else remains to be seen.
The biggest dilemma here is the one you often see with UFA’s; Krug’s cap hit. Krug is expected to bring in anywhere between $7-$8 million annually, a figure he rightfully deserves.
But when general manager Don Sweeney finally sits down Krug’s camp to (hopefully) iron out a deal, there’s two important questions Sweeney must ask.
1- Are we willing to pay Krug more than superstars Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak?
2- If we sign Krug, will be able to pay both Brandon Carlo and Charlie McAvoy when their current contracts expire, without investing too much into the d-core?
It’s a tough situation for Sweeney and company to be in, but I truly believe Krug is vital to the Bruins success, especially on the power play.
Last March
I took a deep look into Krug’s importance on the power play. I’ve gone through and updated some of the information from the previous blog to include here.
Since Krug became a full time defenseman in the league, only three defensemen have more power play points than Krug does.
Diving deeper into individual importance to each team’s respective power play success, Krug’s importance doesn’t quite translate to the importance Keith Yandle and Erik Karlsson have to the Panthers’ and Sharks’ power play, but nonetheless, Krug is a major factor in the Bruins power play success.
As you can see from the above chart, since the 2013-14 season, Krug has been on the ice for 65.6% of the Bruins power play goals scored, while factoring in on the scoring on 42.74% of those goals.
In each of the last two seasons, and now the currently suspended 2019-20 season, the Bruins power play has been at its best since Krug’s arrival in 2013.
Looking at the bigger picture in regards to power play success since the 2013-14 season, the Bruins have converted on 22.4% of their power play opportunities, tying the Washington Capitals for tops in all of the NHL.
In that time frame however, only six teams (excluding Vegas) have had less power play opportunities than the 1,657 the Bruins have had.
The Bruins have two potential power play quarterbacks in McAvoy and Matt Grzelcyk waiting in the wings, but neither have yet to develop the power play degree Krug has.
With the likes of Anders Bjork, Jake DeBrusk, Grzelcyk, McAvoy and Carlo all RFA’s in next three to four seasons, the Bruins will have to think twice before dishing out any large contracts.
Krug is on record saying that a hometown discount is something he has discussed with his family.
"Would I take less to stay in Boston? It's something that I've talked about with my family and my agent. It's something I'm interested in,” Krug told ESPN’S Emily Kaplan in an article posted this past September.
“How much less -- that's a question that will be answered at a certain time. I think something that's fair will be able to be worked out both ways. As long as they want me, I think something could be done, realistically.”
“How much less” certainly is the question. Krug will be coming off of a four year contract that paid him $5.25M annually.
The Detroit Red Wings are believed to be a big player in the Torey Krug sweepstakes should he hit the open market. In the middle of a rebuild, the Red Wings have the cap space and some nice young assets in their rebuild to be an attractive option for Krug.
Not to mention Krug grew up in Michigan and attended Michigan State.
Knowing he could make upwards of $7.5M on the open market, would a slight raise of say $6M annually be enough of a “hometown discount” to keep Krug in Boston for the foreseeable future?
Only time will tell.
My decision: This is such a tough one. I think the Bruins would be in a tough position without Krug, but anything over $7M puts the Bruins in a tough position moving forward from a salary cap standpoint.
If you can sign him for no more than $7M annually, I say do it. If it’s anything north of $7, I think Sweeney and company have to pass.
Other would you rather blogs
Would you rather...sign Tuukka Rask to an extension this summer, or let him play out his contract year?
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