DJ Bean ranks the Bruins trade assets as Don Sweeney prepares to improve the team this offseason.
Torey Krug's career with the Boston Bruins is over.
Krug has agreed to a seven-year contract worth $45.5 million ($6.5 million per season) with the St. Louis Blues, the team announced Friday night. The Blues defeated the Bruins in Game 7 of the 2019 Stanley Cup Final, and now they've signed Boston's top free agent of the 2020 offseason.
Krug's arrival in St. Louis could spell the end of Alex Pietrangelo's impressive career with the Blues. St. Louis' captain and top defenseman also is an unrestricted free agent, and the Blues don't have the cap space to sign both him and Krug at this time.
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Krug, 29, was originally signed by the Bruins as a college free agent in 2012. He played seven full seasons with the B's and gave them consistent offensive production -- both at even strength and the power play -- from the blue line.
Krug tallied 49 points (nine goals, 40 assists) in 60 games during the shortened 2019-20 regular season. He's averaged 51.2 points over the last five seasons.
His departure leaves the Bruins with a good-sized hole on the back end. Krug was an important player who logged 20-plus minutes per game and provided tremendous leadership.
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The Bruins don't have a young defenseman with top-four ability ready to step into Krug's role. Jeremy Lauzon, Matt Grzelcyk and others are best suited on the third pairing at this stage of their careers.
The best way for the Bruins to replace Krug is by signing a veteran free agent or making a trade. The Bruins have around $15 million in salary cap space and could prioritize spending that money on a winger -- such as Taylor Hall, Mike Hoffman or Tyler Toffoli -- instead of Krug replacement.