The 28-year-old defenseman has one season remaining on a four-year, $21 million contract (average annual value of $5.25 million) he signed with Boston on June 30, 2016. He has been eligible to sign an extension since July 1 and can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2020.
"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," Krug told the website. "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."
At the NHL Player Media Tour in September, Krug said contract talks had been nonexistent. At the time, the Bruins were negotiating with restricted free agent defensemen Charlie McAvoy, who signed a three-year, $14.7 million contract on Sept. 5, and Brandon Carlo, who signed a two-year, $5.7 million contract on Sept. 17.
"I understand we have two guys who need to be signed, and that can have big effects on our (NHL salary) cap situation moving forward, and our boss has to deal with that," Krug said then. "… I've put together a resume I'm very comfortable with and happy about. And trust me, I'm not saying I feel disrespected or anything. It's just part of the situation."
Boston is also negotiating with forwards Charlie Coyle and Jake DeBrusk, who each can become a free agent after this season.
"They're all ongoing," Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said Tuesday. "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.
"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. And if things work out and we find that common ground, they probably will be for a long time."
Krug, who signed with Boston as an undrafted free agent on March 25, 2012, led Bruins defensemen last season with 53 points (six goals, 47 assists) in 64 games, 25 points more than McAvoy, who was second. In the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Krug was second among NHL defensemen with 18 points (six goals, 12 assists) in 24 games, helping the Bruins reach the Stanley Cup Final, which they lost to the St. Louis Blues.
Krug has 288 points (58 goals, 230 assists) in 462 regular-season games and 46 points (11 goals, 35 assists) in 62 playoff games.
