Bruins open to the possibility of trading Krug

The Boston Bruins are looking to get back up from the heartbreaking Stanley Cup loss at the hands of the St. Louis Blues and now need to focus on their priority list for the offseason. 

However, they may once again face some heartbreaking situations… 

Team insider Joe Haggerty reports Bruins GM Don Sweeney didn’t outright reject the notion of trading Torey Krug this summer. 

Hockey is business and Sweeney is aware of Krug’s value on the trade market and what he could be getting as a free agent next summer. However, he indicated he’d have to receive a mind-blowing offer to consider shipping out Krug.

“We have an opportunity on July 1 to open up talks, and some of it will be dictated by the RFA market and some internal things will dictate the timing of those conversations. If somebody blew us away [with a trade offer] then every player has to be looked at in that way. From an organizational standpoint, it would be a disservice if you don’t. It would take a pretty unique opportunity for us to part with Torey. We believe that he’s in the fabric of our group and he’s kind of that next wave of leadership behind the guys that have carried the mantle for a long time. He’s an important part of our club.”

While Sweeney appears set on re-signing the star defenseman, it won’t stop rival teams from picking up the phone and making a call about Krug. 

Also, Krug is a year away from UFA eligibility and in line for a big raise over his current $5.25-million annual average value. His contract demands could be too steep for the Bruins and therefore prompt a heartbreaking trade to take place this summer. 

It has been mentioned by several NHL insiders, including Elliotte Friedman that the Detroit Red Wings would become a strong contender for Krug’s services and the defenseman could be tempted to be moved there, seeing that he is from the Michigan area. 

Re-signing Krug is expected to cost the Bruins between $6.35 million to $8 million annually on a seven- or eight-year contract. If they consider that too expensive a risk, team insider Fluto Shinzawa of The Athletic has speculated they could try to trade him at the NHL Draft in Vancouver this weekend. 

Maybe Sweeney will pick up the phone after all…