Torey Krug recently opened up about his ankle injury and its possible impact on his career.
He first hurt his ankle in 2018 during the playoffs against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Krug crashed into the boards, breaking his left ankle, and missed the rest of the playoffs.
Starting late in the 2018-19 season due to this injury, Krug played 64 games for Boston before moving to St. Louis in 2020 with a seven-year contract. Over time, arthritis from his surgery became problematic, though he managed with treatments and injections. “Anyone with arthritis knows there’s some good days and then there’s some bad days,” he said. “Playing hockey helped because I was in a boot providing support.”
Major Setback During Offseason:
This offseason brought significant challenges for Krug as he struggled during training sessions. “But there were some red flags [this offseason],” he mentioned. Unable to prepare properly for the NHL season, he contacted Blues GM Doug Armstrong to discuss a plan with medical experts.
Initially, they aimed for six to eight weeks of rehab followed by reassessment. With rehab now complete, Krug will undergo subtalar fusion surgery—a procedure that could endanger his career since it limits foot and ankle movement essential for an NHL defenseman.
Fans might think this news is quite worrying given the uncertainty surrounding his return.
Dr. Rick Lehman from U.S. Center of Sports Medicine estimated Krug’s chances of returning at about 30%, calling it a Hail Mary move due to its unpredictable recovery period.
What do you think? Can Torey make a comeback after such a tough surgery?
