BRIGHTON, Mass – Torey Krug at Bruins Media Day on Tuesday said that his mind was at ease after the Bruins had initiated talks with his camp for a contract extension beyond this season.
The 28-year-old Krug is entering the final year of his contract with the Bruins after posting three straight 50-point seasons and garnered Conn Smythe consideration last spring on Boston’s run to the Stanley Cup Final. Krug had voiced some trepidation after not hearing from the Bruins this summer while they worked out contract extensions with Brandon Carlo and Charlie McAvoy, but sounded a bit more relaxed after contract negotiations had commenced.
“It’s exciting. Now that we’re in the regular season I don’t want to talk too much about it just out of respect for my teammates and the process,” said Krug, who posted 53 points in just 64 games last season and enters a season totally healthy for the first time in a long time. “But it’s obviously exciting when you’re talking about where you could be for the future while taking care of the present obviously. That’s the most important thing. But it’s an exciting time and hopefully things work out.”
Don Sweeney, for his part, said he’s not going to get into details on extensions for either Krug or Charlie Coyle, and instead prefers to work behind the scenes while trying to get a deal done. It will be a much less private process if both Krug and Coyle get beyond this season unsigned with unrestricted free agency on July 1 waiting for both players, but for now, the Bruins GM can work stealthily behind the scenes.
“The [contract negotiations] are all ongoing. As I’ve been previously saying that you will not hear through us where those deals are at, and that’s really out of respect for every deal that you negotiate. I understand it makes your guys’ job that much harder, and you do a hell of a job predicting where those are all supposed to go; Joe [Haggerty], I read yours this morning,” said Don Sweeney. “Those influences are not brought in to our discussions. We have discussions that need to take place, and the other side will hopefully respect that as well.
“We are in discussions with the players we’ve discussed, because they are a part of our group right now and a very important part of our group. If things work out and we find that common ground, they probably will be for a long time.”
What exactly is Krug looking at for his next contract after making a bargain $5.25 million per season on his last deal?
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The seven-year, $53 million contract for Minnesota Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon is undoubtedly a comparable, and something Krug could easily get on the open market based on the elite offensive numbers he’s produced over the last three seasons while playing a top-4 role for a playoff team in Boston.
Krug has also voiced the willingness to take something of a hometown discount to remain in Boston where he’s comfortable, so you might even be able to shave $4-5 million off his contract were he to re-up with the Black and Gold. With dead money and contracts for players like Zdeno Chara, and possibly even David Backes, coming off the books following this season, there will clearly be money there to sign some combination of Krug, Coyle and RFA Jake DeBrusk for next year and beyond.
Now it just remains to be seen how things are going to play out in contract talks between players and team. But at least things have gotten started with a key player in Krug that the B’s want to have an uncluttered mind to start the season.
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