Blues' Krug to have ankle surgery, miss next season

St. Louis Blues defenseman Torey Krug is set to undergo surgery on his left ankle and will miss the entire 2024-25 campaign, the team announced Tuesday.

Krug attempted to rehab the pre-arthritic changes in his ankle through nonsurgical conventions, which could've allowed him to return at some point this coming season.

The 33-year-old recorded 39 points in 77 games in 2023-24 while averaging 21:58 of ice time per contest.

Krug has spent his last four seasons in St. Louis after joining as an unrestricted free agent in 2020. He still has three years left on a contract paying him $6.5 million annually, though the Blues can now place him on long-term injured reserve for the upcoming season and recoup that cap space.

The veteran's absence leaves a vacancy on the left side of St. Louis' blue line, although the team did add several left-shooting defensemen this offseason, including former Edmonton Oilers blue-liner Philip Broberg via a successful offer sheet. The club's defense projects as follows:

LD RD Nick Leddy Colton Parayko Philip Broberg Justin Faulk Ryan Suter Scott Perunovich (L) Pierre-Olivier Joseph

Krug's absence also leaves an opening to quarterback the team's No. 1 power-play unit. Justin Faulk and Scott Perunovich are the top candidates for that job.

A 5-foot-9 defenseman, Krug has averaged 51 points per 82 games across his 13-year career spent between the Blues and Boston Bruins.

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