St. Louis Blues defenseman Torey Krug may be forced to retire due to a serious ankle injury, according to general manager Doug Armstrong.
Krug, known for his strong power-play skills and puck-moving ability, missed the entire 2024-25 NHL season after undergoing surgery on his left ankle. He’s been dealing with pre-arthritic changes that made it difficult for him to continue playing.
Not Expected To Return To NHL
Armstrong told reporters that he doesn’t expect Krug to return to the NHL, though he wishes that weren’t the case.
Krug himself admitted last September that there was a chance he might not play again. The 34-year-old defenseman signed a seven-year, $45.5 million contract with the Blues in 2020 after spending nine seasons with the Boston Bruins. He played a key role in Boston’s runs to the Stanley Cup Final in 2013 and 2019.
“I’m not expecting him to play again,” Armstrong said. “Now, he’s hoping that I’m wrong, I’m hoping that I’m wrong and he’s pushing, but the surgery that he had, it was very, very invasive.”
Although Krug still has two years left on his contract, the Blues can place him on long-term injured reserve, which would relieve the team from his salary cap hit. It’s a tough situation for a player who’s meant so much to his teams over the years.
Meanwhile, the Blues are still recovering from a heartbreaking playoff loss. They were just under two minutes away from advancing past the Winnipeg Jets in Game 7 of their first-round series.
But the Jets scored twice in the final moments to force overtime and eventually won in double OT on a deflection by Adam Lowry. It was a crushing end to a season full of highs and lows for St. Louis.
Torey Krug Carved Out a Superb Career
Notwithstanding the unfortunate injury, which may cut short his playing days, the NHL will miss what Krug has managed to leave behind as an impressive legacy.
An undrafted college player, Krug has defied the odds and has blossomed into a key cog on the Boston Bruins’ blue line, where he plays fearlessly, makes quick decisions, and wields a powerful power play.
In Boston over nine seasons, he was part of two Stanley Cup Final appearances, in 2013 and 2019, and was respected throughout the league for his grit and offensive skill.
Krug inked a massive free-agent deal with the St. Louis Blues in 2020 and has continued to provide leadership and experience on the ice.
Though injuries hampered him later, his contributions—on and off the ice—were important. Krug’s path from college standout to NHL star has provided more 600 NHL games and almost 400 points, not just as a defenseman. If this is the end, he leaves it with his head high, having achieved something the sports world probably didn’t always predict but always respected.