Torey Krug falls apart when speaking about surgery and NHL future in jeopardy

Earlier this summer, it was reported by the St. Louis Blues that defenseman Torey Krug had been diagnosed with pre-arthritic changes in his left ankle and that if surgery is required he’ll miss the entirety of the 2024-25 NHL season. When it was first announced, it had been mentioned how the injury is a cumulative result of a bone fracture suffered earlier in his playing career, and it has now been confirmed that surgery is necessary.

On Wednesday, Krug opened up in an interview with reporters about his upcoming ankle surgery about what it means for his career.

According to Blues insider Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic, Krug got pretty emotional when answering question about what the surgery could lead to and if it means his NHL career is over.

“This summer I wasn’t really able to do any of the things I need to do to prepare for the NHL season. I tried to work through it and find a way to train. We’re here now because I couldn’t and I’m going to get it fixed. Definitely one of the hardest things I’ve been through”

“Getting it taken care of as a 33-year-old professional athlete is a little bit different. I thought I’d have to do it when I was 50, down the road and retired. So, I always knew it was something that would have to be done. It’s just disappointing and sad it has to be now.”

On his future, Krug added: "We don't really know that. Obviously being out for the year, you can understand it's a pretty big surgery that I have to get ... that goes into the mental side of things that have been pretty tough for me.

"At 33 years old, when you miss a whole year of hockey, those things cross your mind. I don't want to look too far ahead, but yeah, those are things that you definitely think about."

Unfortunately for Krug, being unavailable for the entirety of the 2024-25 season, his time in the NHL, and if not, perhaps his days in St. Louis could be numbered.

“There’s no guarantee that the surgery will lead to Krug returning to the ice in 2025-26, so that will have to be monitored as he recovers,” writes Rutherford.

Krug, who was originally signed by the Blues as a free agent on Oct. 9, 2020, dressed in 77 regular-season games, posting 39 points (four goals, 35 assists) and 32 penalty minutes. He’s 33 years old and is in year four of a seven year deal that pays him $6.5 million per season. Krug will have two more seasons remaining on his contract after missing the upcoming season.

Overall in his NHL career, Krug has appeared in 778 career regular-season games, including stints with the Boston Bruins and St. Louis, totalling 483 points (89 goals, 394 assists) and 374 penalty minutes.

We can only wish him the best, a successful surgery and a swift recovery.