Healthy story for this Torey
Krug’s ankle close to recovered
With the depth on the Bruins blue line, Torey Krug has taken ample time to heal a broken ankle he suffered last postseason.
Krug needed a maintenance day on Monday before going all out in practice yesterday. The road back is nearly complete. Krug will likely play in his first preseason game tonight, and it’s the final step to ensure he’s fully recovered and ready for the regular season.
“I feel pretty good,” he said. “It’s baby steps. It’s tough to tell day to day, but week to week I’m feeling better. Just trying to stay in a groove and be ready to play.”
Yesterday was the first time the entire team practiced as one group, and Krug spent most of it paired with Brandon Carlo, who missed a second straight postseason due to an injury.
The possibility of a Krug trade was floated in the offseason thanks to that already crowded situation on the blue line. Instead Adam McQuaid was traded away to the Rangers. That leaves Krug as likely a top-pairing defender, and despite the depth in the defensive corps, the Bruins play differently in all three zones with a proven puck mover like Krug.
With such a young team up front, the defense is going to be tested at times. There are young players back there, too, but there’s plenty of experience and leadership.
Krug is going to be the last line on defense often, but now that he’s getting back to full strength in time to start the season, the confidence is returning.
“Just being patient, it’s a mindset,” he said. “Realizing you’re not going to feel exactly how you felt the last time you played, but it will come pretty quick. I’m not too worried about it at all. We’re right on the cusp for sure.”
At practice yesterday at the Garden, Krug was a full go, participating in puck battles in the corners and taking hits, a far cry from how training camp started for the defenseman.
But there’s still a few things to test before he knows he’s in the clear.
“Just quick starts and stops in the corners,” he said. “I feel actually really good skating-wise. I feel fast through the neutral zone. Pivots are good. The stops and starts, reacting to other players in the corner, that’s probably the last part.”
By the time Krug takes the ice in Washington a week from today in the season opener against the Capitals, as is expected, he’ll be relied upon and needed as one of the most important cogs in the lineup.
It’s also important for Krug to be on his game, and with the strides he’s made defensively the past couple of seasons, expectations will be high.
With his recovery nearing its end, the final two preseason games, if Krug gets cleared to play, will be important tune-ups for the regular season.
“I don’t plan on any setbacks or anything,” said Krug. “I’m feeling good.”