The St. Louis Blues will be without one of their top defencemen this season.
The Blues announced Tuesday that Torey Krug will undergo surgery to address pre-arthritic changes in his left ankle that will force him to miss the entire 2024-25 campaign.
The 33-year-old has attempted to rehab his injury for the last six to eight weeks with the goal of avoiding surgery.
The injury stems from a bone fracture Krug suffered earlier in his career.
Krug joined St. Louis in October 2020 as a free agent on a seven-year deal worth $6.5 million per season. If the Royal Oak, Mich., native is forced to miss the season, it could provide the Blues with cap space to consider other moves.
During his four seasons with the Blues, Krug has recorded 146 points and 154 penalty minutes in 255 regular-season games. In 778 career regular-season games, Krug has 483 points.
This now opens up more opportunities for Philip Broberg to play after St. Louis signed the defenceman to an offer sheet which was not matched by the Edmonton Oilers.
St. Louis Blues defenseman Torey Krug will be sidelined for the entire 2024-25 NHL season due to a severe ankle injury. The 33-year-old suffered the injury during a game against the Chicago Blackhawks last week and subsequent medical evaluations revealed that he will require surgery and an extended period of rehabilitation.
Krug, who signed a seven-year, $45.5 million contract with the Blues in 2020, has been a key player for the team since his arrival. Known for his offensive prowess and strong defensive play, Krug’s absence will undoubtedly be felt on the ice.
The loss of Krug will be a significant blow to the Blues’ defense, as he was averaging over 20 minutes of ice time per game and contributing both offensively and defensively. His absence will create an opportunity for other players on the roster to step up and fill the void left by his absence.
In a statement released by the team, Blues general manager Doug Armstrong expressed his disappointment over Krug’s injury but remained optimistic about his recovery. “Torey is a valuable member of our team and we will support him throughout his rehabilitation process. We have full confidence in his ability to recover and come back stronger than ever,” Armstrong said.
Krug himself took to social media to thank fans for their support and vowed to work hard to make a full recovery. “I’m devastated by this injury but I will do everything in my power to come back stronger than ever. Thank you to all the fans for your support and well wishes,” Krug wrote.
While Krug’s absence will undoubtedly be felt by the Blues, the team will need to rally together and find ways to compensate for his loss. With a deep roster and talented players, the Blues have the potential to overcome this setback and continue to compete at a high level in the upcoming season.