Krug wants to stick around
Addresses uncertain future with Bruins
The weird and ultimately unfulfilling 2019-20 Bruins’ season is now in the books. And while Torey Krug did not want to come out and say it definitively on a Thursday Zoom call, it certainly feels like his run as a Bruin is over as well.
Krug is an unrestricted free agent. He is 29 years old, a topfour defenseman on one of the best teams in the NHL, and an elite power-play distributor. He is in the sweet spot of his career for moneyearning. But Krug said talks between his camp and the Bruins have not exactly been percolating over the past season. With that being the case, it was difficult for him to express either optimism or pessimism that a deal could get done with the Bruins.
“The contact was very few and far between, for whatever reason,” said Krug. “It is what it is. As far as what it looks like, I don’t really know what the future holds in terms of the coming weeks. Free agency isn’t until I think a week after the season ends in terms of the Stanley Cup being awarded. We’ll see. I guess there’s a lot of time between now and then. I’m not really sure what the future holds. I’m willing to sit back and see what happens here. But that’s pretty much all I’ve got for you.”
This has been an unusual year with the pandemic and the flattened salary cap of the new CBA, so that relative silence may not say everything. Matt Grzelcyk, whose role would most likely be expanded with a Krug departure, is a restricted free agent. The Charlestown native said there hasn’t been much movement there, either.
But with what Krug has meant for this team, it’s hard not to read into the relative silence between the two camps. While he’s loved his time in Boston and admits to having an emotional attachment to the team and city, he’s under no illusions.
“I’ve spent my whole adult life, my whole professional career here in this organization and city and I’ve done everything they’ve asked of me and I’m proud of that,” said Krug. “I put all my energy into helping this team win games and win championships. We’ve come close twice now, unfortunately it wasn’t in the cards for us. But I’m a big believer that there’s a journey for all of us, whether it’s here or somewhere else, I’m not too worried about it or anxious about it. But, yeah, there’s an emotional attachment.
“That’s a mistake that a lot of athletes get caught up in when they start their professional careers. There’s nothing personal about it. It’s a business on both ends. Teams have to put the best team forward, spending a certain amount of money, and athletes have one shot at making all their money in their career whether they play one, two, three years in the league up to 10. You have one shot to do it. I realize that and it is what it is. But there definitely is an emotional attachment. There’s no secret there. I’ve been very outspoken about it. My teammates know it and everyone knows it. Yeah, it’s part of the business. It stinks but we’ll see what happens.”
While Krug has said he’d be willing to take some kind of a hometown discount, it doesn’t sound like he’ll be looking to bend over too far backward. The days of taking a shortterm deal in hopes that money will come free in future years is not happening.
“I’m very opposed to that,” said Krug. “I’ve bet on myself and I’ve taken shorter-term deals and less amount of money my whole career now, so this is my time in terms of my value at its peak and I have the ability and I’m in the position now where I need to make the most of it. I’m very opposed to something like that. I’ve done it long enough now.”
But while it’s about money — it always is and always should be — there are other factors, such as having the right fit on a team and in a city. Krug’s got that part here in Boston. He’ll be guessing if he goes somewhere else.
“It weighs heavily on any decision you as an athlete can make and if you don’t consider that then I think you’re foolish. But for me, it’s very important,” said Krug. “You can make all the money in the world and have all the security in the world, but if you’re not comfortable in a situation, you’re not happy, then every day is going to be tough and tough to get up and get excited to show up for work and give it your all. For me, it’s very important. I think it’s very tough to forecast two, three, four years down the line and try to understand what that fit will feel like then because players move on, coaches move on. Those are just some of the things you have to consider. It’s a big part of the decision. Obviously I’ve made it well known that I feel comfortable in Boston and I like my role here. I’m comfortable with my coach and I love my teammates. It’s no secret. And it’s a big part of the decision.”
Krug is used to being in the hunt for at least a playoff spot here in Boston. When he was asked what he thought about playing for a team in a rebuilding phase — his hometown Red Wings come to mind — he said he’s yet to think about different scenarios.
“I was very truthful and honest with you guys when I told you I wasn’t thinking about it during the season. I invested all my time with what was going on with the Bruins,” said Krug. “I was very hopeful that would result in ending up back with the Bruins. I haven’t thought about any other team or situation to date. Likely, as we approach free agency, I may have to do that. I haven’t thought about anything. I’m very proud of what we’ve done here in Boston over the years and being part of that core group, guys have come and gone. I’ve managed to stay for eight years now and I’m very happy that I was a part of it. Hopefully that continues and I still am.”
But at the end of the conference, Krug, always a classy and engaging subject, made a point of thanking reporters that he’s gotten to know and for all their questions over the years, whether he’s liked those questions or not.
“Hopefully I’ll be seeing you soon at the rinks,” said Krug. “If not, I’ll see you elsewhere.”