Krug Looks Ahead to Free Agency

BostonBruins.com - Torey Krug admitted that he's not quite fond of one of the crowns he holds as a veteran of the Boston sports scene. A member of the Black & Gold since 2012, the 29-year-old is the longest-tenured athlete in town without a championship to his name, a title he desperately would like to shed.
"That's extremely frustrating because every year here it seems like there's a team here that's going on a run or winning a championship and you want to be part of that culture and that group of athletes that brings happiness to the city," said Krug, who has been to the Stanley Cup Final twice - in 2013 and 2019.
"Both seemingly ended with extreme disappointment and being so close yet feeling so far away from getting it. Then you've got to restart from zero and go back and do it all over. The energy and the amount of time and people that are required to go on a long run like that, it's tough to manage and tough to put it together again.

"We feel every year that when we start training camp, we have the team that has the ability to go back and do it again and eventually lift the Stanley Cup…we obviously feel like there is unfinished business there."
It is far from the only unfinished business Krug currently faces. The veteran blue liner will become an unrestricted free agent next month and acknowledges that the future remains uncertain, meaning his chance at lifting the Cup in Black & Gold and shedding that most unwanted title may have passed.
"I don't really know what the future holds in terms of the coming weeks, and free agency isn't until a week after the season ends in terms of the Stanley Cup being awarded," said Krug, who added that discussions with the Bruins have been "very, very few and far between" of late.
"We'll see. I guess there's a lot of time between now and then...I'm willing to sit back and see what happens here."
Krug has never known anything other than the Spoked-B during his professional hockey career after signing as an undrafted free agent out of Michigan State in March 2012. The 5-foot-9, 186-pounder has for years thrived on proving wrong all of the teams that passed up on him because of his size, giving him an edge that has helped develop him into a vital piece of Boston's veteran core as a staple on the B's second pair and top power-play unit.
"I've spent my whole adult life, my whole professional career here in this organization, this city, done seemingly everything they've asked of me. I'm proud of that," said Krug, who is ranked first in franchise history in scoring among American-born players with 337-career points.
"I put all my energy into helping this team try to win games and win championships and we've come close twice now, and unfortunately it wasn't in the cards for us. 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 [to Boston]. I think 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 business from both ends."

Krug, who will turn 30 during the 2020-21 season, knows this is his chance to make the most of his opportunity to secure a significant contract, saying he was "very opposed" to any kind of one-year, prove-it type deal. Following his three-year, entry-level deal, the Michigan native twice signed such contracts (for 2014-15 and 2015-6) before landing his current four-year pact that makes him Boston's highest-paid defenseman ($5.25 million AAV).
"Teams have to put the best teams forward spending certain amounts of money and athletes have one shot at making all their money in their career, whether you play one, two, three years in the league, up to 10-15 years, you have one shot to do it all," said Krug, who was on pace for his fourth consecutive 50-point campaign before the pandemic pause capped him at 49 (9 goals, 40 assists) in 61 games.
"I realize that. It is what it is. But there definitely is an emotional attachment, there's no secret. I've been very outspoken about it. My teammates know it, everyone knows it. It is part of the business. It stinks, but we'll see what happens moving forward."
When it comes to what he'll be looking for in finding the right landing spot, Krug did say, however, that is hardly all about the money.
"I think it weighs heavily on any decision that an athlete can make," 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 the situation and not happy, then every day is gonna be tough to get up and excited to show up to work and give it your all.
"For me, it's very important and tough to forecast two, three, four years down the line and trying 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 very comfortable in Boston and I like my role here. I'm comfortable with the coach and I love my teammates. It's no secret. It's a big part of the decision."
One he hopes results with him capping some unfinished business in the Spoked-B.
"I invested all of my time in what's going on with the Bruins. I was very hopeful that it would result in ending up back with the Bruins," Krug said of whether he's considered playing elsewhere. "I haven't thought about any other team or any other situation up to date. Likely as I approach free agency, I'll have to do that, but I haven't thought about anything.
"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, and I've managed to stay for eight years now and very happy that I was part of it. Hopefully it continues and hopefully I still am. That's just the situation that's here."