The St. Louis Blues have signed free agent defenseman Torey Krug. Krug will sign a seven-year deal worth a total of $45.5MM ($6.5MM AAV), leaving the Boston Bruins after nearly a decade in the black and gold. Andy Strickland of Fox Sports Midwest reports that Krug has a full no-movement clause in the first five years of the deal.
Krug will join a defense corps that already has Justin Faulk, Colton Parayko, and Marco Scandella making considerable money, which likely means this is the end of any Alex Pietrangelo negotiations. The Blues were trying to find a way to re-sign their captain, but after he made it to the open market today it obviously was going to be difficult. Instead of waiting around, the Blues went out and got themselves the second-best defenseman on the market in Krug, who is an elite powerplay quarterback and has been one of the most consistent offensive defensemen in the league for some time.
While Pietrangelo was offered a contract closer to $8MM per season by the Blues, Krug comes in at a considerably lower price. That doesn’t mean they are out of the woods financially though, as Krug’s deal still pushes the Blues over the salary cap. It also means they have six NHL defensemen under contract with Vince Dunn still to sign as a restricted free agent, meaning there is likely a trade coming somewhere on their roster. Vladimir Tarasenko‘s $7.5MM could be on its way to long-term injured reserve, but this deal still makes the financial situation in St. Louis awfully tricky.
Still, St. Louis is getting a heck of a player. In the seven seasons since Krug entered the league, he trails only Brent Burns, Erik Karlsson, Victor Hedman, John Carlson, Roman Josi, and Keith Yandle in points from a defenseman. That group has won the Norris Trophy five times, been named an NHL All-Star on 14 occasions and hoisted the Stanley Cup twice—not a bad bunch to be associated with.
Not only is Krug a dynamic puck-mover, he has also shown a willingness to engage physically in the postseason, even though he stands just 5’9″. With more bite than you might expect out of someone that skilled, he’ll fit in perfectly under St. Louis head coach Craig Berube.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
If the price is significantly lower than what Petro gets, solid signing. Younger, offensively gifted and decent in his own end….lacks the leadership but the Blues have a bunch of guys with that skillset. Alex on his way to where?, I keep hearing Vegas
The Blues will regret this signing. He is absolutely horrible in his own end..
Welp looks like Petro is gone. Can’t wait to see Armstrong’s head on a pike. Unless somehow, something magical takes place, but that’s highly unlikely.
reports are Pietro deal is done with Vegas just waiting on some more salary shipped out
Wonder who ships. Knights are going for it again
Marc.
Hopefully back to Pittsburgh with a second round pick at half his salary for DeSmith.
pen’s can’t take back $.
That would seem far fetched considering that teams are allowed to go over the cap by 10% during the off-season. Required to be under cap by day 1 of the regular season. Could still be headed to Vegas but doubtful that’s the reason for a holdup.
Wondering how the heck Vegas can afford Petro?!
He only cost 6.5 wtffffffffffffff
$6.5 at a whole bunch of years though…generally you get the high annual $ or term, one or the other. He’s young enough that it shouldn’t be a drag in it’s final season(s)
That comment makes sense. Will see if he can live up to the contract.
Seem’s like overpay some how. Best d man& scorer in VT down. Could be trouble in STL.
What are you on and can I have some?
Pete not coming back. Vlad has had 3 surgeries.Who picks up his 30+ goals? If you need drugs YOU NEED HELP
A decent job of cleaning up his own mess, but losing Pietrangelo after overpaying Faulk…not good.
Spot on comment. Well said
Yup agreed
Sad to Alex go. But understandable with what he is rumored to get- 9mil +. Didn’t expect us to sign krug but I’m pleased with it. Needed a lefty over being back a righty. Curious if Armstrong sees Faulk and krug as guys he can get five good yes. And move the 6.5( probably like 4mil today) on a 1-2 yr deal easy at the end?
Krug is a machine on the power play; St. Louis fans will love watching him work the point with the man advantage. At $6.5M/yr. I’m surprised Boston didn’t resign him. It must have been the 7 year term that scared them off. Not sure how good he’ll be in the final 2-3 years of the deal but he will give his absolute best effort every time he’s on the ice. Nice signing by the Blues.