Torey Krug, Boston Bruins (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
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According to the latest NHL trade rumors, the Boston Bruins are expected to trade the negotiating rights of defenseman Torey Krug.
Torey Krug’s days with the Boston Bruins have been numbered for quite some time. The defenseman was very blunt about his future with the organization during exit interviews after the Bruins were eliminated by the Tampa Bay Lightning. According to the latest NHL trade rumors, the Bruins are reportedly close to trading his negotiating rights. This would allow the Bruins to at least get something for Krug rather than losing him for nothing.
There are several benefits to trading for a player’s negotiating rights. First of all, it gives the team an extended window to sign the free agent. With the window to negotiate with free agents disappearing during these troubling times, this is a huge benefit.
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Secondly, it allows the team that acquires his rights to sign him to an eight-year deal. But given Krug’s age (he’s 29), don’t expect him to sign an eight-year deal.
Several teams have been listed as potential teams interested in Krug. One of them is the Florida Panthers, who just recently traded Mike Matheson to the Pittsburgh Penguins. This leaves a hole on their left side and it’s one Krug could fill.
Also mentioned are the Colorado Avalanche. Now there’s an interesting fit. They already have Samuel Girard locked up long-term. 2018 first-round pick Bowen Byram is extremely close to being NHL ready and could have a spot on the roster as soon as the start of the 2020-21 season. Plus Ryan Graves is a restricted free agent.
The Vegas Golden Knights are another team linked to Krug. They’d like to improve their blueline this offseason, so Krug would make sense. It’s worth noting they’ve also been linked to Alex Pietrangelo. Krug wouldn’t cost as much as Pietrangelo to sign, which is great for a cap-strapped team like the Golden Knights.
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Krug is going to be highly sought after for several reasons. First of all, he’s a gifted player on the left side. Krug’s also a great power play quarterback, as he’s been a huge reason why the Bruins PP has been consistently great in recent years. He’s also strong in transition, which is important in today’s NHL.