St. Louis Blues defenseman Torey Krug faces the possibility of missing the upcoming 2024-25 season due to pre-arthritic changes in his left ankle, as announced by the team on Tuesday. The 33-year-old defenseman will undergo a re-evaluation in six to eight weeks, coinciding with the start of training camp. Depending on the assessment, it may be determined that surgery is necessary.

For now, Krug will focus on non-surgical treatments during the next two months as part of his rehabilitation process. He is currently listed as out indefinitely, and the team states that the condition is a result of cumulative damage from a previous bone fracture sustained earlier in his career.

Krug's injury comes after a season where he played a total of 77 games, the highest number since the 2016-17 season when he was with the Boston Bruins. He averaged 21 minutes and 57 seconds of ice time per game, the second-highest of his career. Despite his playing time, Krug endured a challenging season, scoring four goals and 39 points but receiving a team-worst minus-31 rating. This has contributed to a combined minus-57 rating over the past two seasons, following a strong plus-34 rating in his initial seasons with the Blues.

The defenseman's injury also creates speculation about his future with the team. Trade rumors had been circulating during the offseason, particularly after the Blues signed Ryan Suter in free agency, bringing their total of NHL defensemen to nine. However, a source close to Krug recently indicated that he would not waive his no-trade clause at this time. With the potential for a long-term injury, any potential trade market for Krug would no longer exist.

In terms of the Blues' defensive lineup, if Krug's re-evaluation does not deliver positive news, the team would start the season with eight defensemen, including Colton Parayko, Nick Leddy, Justin Faulk, Ryan Suter, Scott Perunovich, Tyler Tucker, Pierre-Olivier Joseph, and Matthew Kessel. The Blues currently have a salary cap space of $7.34 million, according to PuckPedia, which means they are not required to place Krug on Long-Term Injured Reserve (LTIR) for salary-cap purposes.

The severity of Krug's ankle injury and potential impact on the team remains uncertain. No official comments from Blues general manager Doug Armstrong or Krug himself have been provided regarding the situation. Further information regarding the timeframe and details surrounding Krug's diagnosis and the onset of his symptoms are also currently unknown.

Blues fans and hockey enthusiasts will be eagerly awaiting updates on Krug's condition as the team prepares for the upcoming season. The absence of the skilled defenseman will undoubtedly present challenges for the Blues, but they possess depth within their defensive roster and ample salary cap space to navigate the situation.

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