Boston Bruins Torey Krug Reaches Several Career Highs While Earning His Keep

While the Bruins still undergo growing pains as a team, a steady presence on the blueline throughout this past season was Torey Krug.

The 25-year old Michigan native was the B’s most reliable defenseman on many nights, and propelled himself into becoming a top-four NHL defenseman this year – one of his top goals entering the season.

In his third full season with Boston, he reached career highs in assists (40), points (44), shots (244), blocks (94), games (81) and PIMs (33) while trailing only Zdeno Chara in average ice time on the team at 21:37 a game. That’s a two-minute improvement over last year, and a four-minute increase from the previous year. He also finished a solid +9 on the season. Krug led all Bruins defenders in points, was second overall on the team in assists and cracked the top 20 in NHL blueliner scoring, finishing 19th, but he's not stopping there.

“I think I’ve done my job to prove that I can definitely take on more of a role,” Krug told the Boston Herald. “But I’m not done with it. I want to become a more elite defenseman and pick up bigger minutes.”

With the departure of Dougie Hamilton, who had manned Boston’s second powerplay unit, at the onset of the year and the Bruins in the midst of a transition on the blueline as Chara and Dennis Seidenberg approach the twilight of their careers and new B’s prospects come in and try to make their marks, Krug has been a steadying influence.

"I think I've done my job to prove that I can definitely take on more of a role. But I'm not done with it. I want to become a more elite defenseman." - Torey Krug

Not only has he been playing big minutes, manning the top powerplay unit and serving as the Bruins best puck mover and playmaker from the back end, he has been playing in all situations and even sees nearly 40 seconds a game on the penalty kill – a new role for him with the B’s. “I’ve only been scored on once this year on the penalty kill,” he told the Herald. “I think it would be nice to get a little more responsibility, but I understand that there are other guys for that role. I’m just trying to take that next step and be a bigger part of the team.”

Krug’s tremendous value comes in on the possession game, where NHL speed and skill trends meet. While several Bruins defenders struggled with getting the puck cleanly out of their end at times this year, the quick and slick Krug was dominant with a whopping 58.1% Corsi (all team shots, goals and shot attempts for versus against while on the ice) and a 59.2% for his career. His ability to handle the puck smoothly and get it quickly out of trouble from the defensive end, up ice and into the offensive zone, and then keep it there is invaluable to helping the team set the tone in games.

His steadily improved defensive play and smart positioning enhances his impact. A great recent example was during the third period in a 6-4 loss to the Blackhawks April 3 when Krug helped spark a Bruins comeback attempt by breaking up a play at center ice with a poke-check and then quickly transitioning with the puck into the offensive zone where he created the play that led to a key Bruins goal. His growing leadership and ability to step up in big games was also apparent when he led the way with a goal and three points as the Bruins pushed the pace and dominated a 5-2 must-win victory over Detroit in the second to last game of the season. “We have a job to do,” Krug said on WEEI before the game. “It’s pretty much a do-or-die attitude. We’ve just got to come out with a good start.”

At 5’9” and 186 lbs, perhaps Krug will occasionally try to do too much, but being willing to take risks is also what makes him an impact player. He more than makes up for any rare mistake with his consistent all-out effort, drive, puck skills, hockey smarts, work ethic and heart, which is second to none. He has great strength and balance, too, and his will and courage was witnessed when he took on Anaheim’s Chris Stewart in a January bout where he refused to back down to the 6’2”, 231-lb goliath during a scrum in front of the Boston net and actually did okay in the ensuing fisticuffs despite giving up five inches and 50 pounds. Krug is what you call a 'True Bruin.'

It’s that leadership by example, passion for the game, hard work and willingness to keep learning and improving that made Krug a captain and star at Michigan State and CCHA Player of the Year, leading him to become a much sought after undrafted free agent before Boston managed to sign him in 2012.

Krug has been working his way up for the B’s ever since. He put in a great year for Providence in 2012-13 with 13 goals and 45 points in 63 games before famously being called up for the NHL playoffs where he emerged as a star for Boston with 4 goals in one series. He notched 14 goals and 40 points the next season in his first full year with Boston, and followed that up with a stellar 2014 playoffs (10 points in 12 games) before putting up another 12 goals and 39 points over 78 games last season.

This year was a big one for him. He decided to forgo a two-year offer last season to sign a one-year $3.4 million contract extension. Prior to that he played on another 1-year deal worth $1.4 million, after completing his entry level agreement. After signing his latest extension last March, Krug played a key leading role on defense on the world stage in Team USA’s bronze medal win in the 2015 World Championship in May, which gave him momentum going into this season.

Krug bet on himself that he’d have a good year and earn a bigger deal, and it looks like it was a good bet. “If they want me to do it again another year, I'm going to do it,” he told the Herald. “I've always bet on myself. Whether it was this year, three years ago, as a free agent in college, I'm trying to prove myself.”

Krug will be a restricted free agent on July 1, but the B’s would be wise to resign him as a high priority this offseason and get him lined up on the blueline for years to come. Bruins President Cam Neely said on April 20 that Krug will undergo offseason shoulder surgery, but there was no indication that he wouldn't be ready for next year.

The Bruins will need Krug's dynamic offensive playmaking, poise and puck possession abilities from the blueline to go with his reliable defensive play - a rare combination that is heavily sought after in today's NHL - to help Boston get back on track in the fall.

UPDATE: The Bruins announced on May 3 that Krug had surgery April 21 on his right shoulder at Massachusetts General Hospital and that he is expected to recover  in six months. That would put his recovery timetable to late October, just a couple weeks into the 2016-17 season.