St. Louis Blues defenseman Torey Krug is scheduled to undergo surgery on his left ankle, causing him to miss the entire 2024-25 NHL season, the team announced on Tuesday.
Krug had attempted to treat the pre-arthritic changes in his ankle through nonsurgical methods, which could have potentially allowed him to return during the upcoming season. However, surgery has now been deemed necessary.
The 33-year-old defenseman accumulated 39 points in 77 games during the 2023-24 season, averaging 21:58 of ice time per game.
Since joining the Blues as an unrestricted free agent in 2020, Krug has spent the last four seasons with the team. He has three years remaining on a contract that pays him $6.5 million annually. With Krug on long-term injured reserve for the 2024-25 season, the Blues will gain additional cap space.
Krug’s injury creates a vacancy on the left side of the Blues’ defense. However, the team has added several left-shooting defensemen this offseason, including Philip Broberg, who was acquired from the Edmonton Oilers via an offer sheet. The team’s defense lineup is projected as follows:
| LD | RD |
| Nick Leddy | Colton Parayko |
| Philip Broberg | Justin Faulk |
| Ryan Suter | Scott Perunovich (L) |
| Pierre-Olivier Joseph |
Krug’s absence also opens up a spot for the team’s No. 1 power-play unit, with Justin Faulk and Scott Perunovich emerging as the leading candidates for that role.
Standing at 5-foot-9, Krug has averaged 51 points per 82 games over his 13-year NHL career with the Blues and Boston Bruins.
