Krug hopes he hasn't played last game with Bruins
Boston Bruins defenseman and pending unrestricted free agent Torey Krug said Tuesday he hopes the NHL's coronavirus-induced break doesn't mark the end of his time with the organization.
"For me personally, I really hope I did not play my last game as a Boston Bruin," Krug said on a conference call, according to Joe Haggerty of NBC Sports Boston. "It's been a special place for me and my family to grow. My love for the game and playing in front of these fans has been very special to me. But (this situation) hasn't given me any clarity."
The 28-year-old is one of the top UFAs potentially available this summer.
"I can't put any assumptions on it, but I can only guess that things are going to look different from a salary-cap perspective next season," Krug said. "Team structures as well are going to be affected by it, but I have no clarity about it. ... It's just the reality of the situation."
He added that there haven't been any negotiations with the Bruins since early March, but the two sides did open talks about a possible extension in October.
The defenseman is in the final campaign of a four-year contract that carries a $5.25-million annual cap hit. The NHL's salary cap was projected to rise as high as $84 million before the pause, but the final figure is far from determined at this point.
Krug signed with the Bruins as a college free agent out of Michigan State and played his first NHL game in 2012. He's racked up 337 points in 523 games, adding another 46 points in 62 career playoff contests.
When the NHL went on pause March 12, the Bruins occupied first place with 100 points.