Torey Krug suffers lower-body injury in loss vs. Flyers
By Ty Anderson, 985TheSportsHub.com
Already the victim of a training camp was limited to just two games due to his recovery from a broken ankle sustained in the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs, things seem to have gotten even worse for Bruins defenseman Torey Krug, who left Saturday’s preseason finale against the Philadelphia Flyers with a lower-body injury.
The injury, which limited Krug’s final preseason tuneup to just eight shifts in 5:28 of time on ice, came with little to no additional information from Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy following the club’s 4-1 loss.
“[Krug] left the game, first period intermission I was told he wasn’t coming back,” Cassidy said. “Lower body injury. I haven’t seen him since. I was just watching the highlights of the third period, so, lowlights I guess is probably a better term, so I have no idea. I assume if there’s something there it’ll be updated tomorrow.
“Hopefully it’s nothing serious. But it’s tough luck if it is, obviously.”
Losing a defenseman that posted a career-high 59 points last season is never easy (especially when you look at Krug’s importance to the Boston power play), but the Bruins do have options behind Krug in Matt Grzelcyk (the Bruins hope he’s back skating on Monday), as well as first-year North American pro Urho Vaakanainen.
Asked if he would be comfortable dressing Vaakanainen for an NHL debut after just one training camp with the B’s, Cassidy noted the Finnish defender’s able to play a simplified game that could theoretically translate to success.
“He’s been fine, real composed. He’s been doing a real good job,” Cassidy said. “Now, told him in NHL game when things ramp up a little bit it’ll be a different animal, but from what we’ve been able to evaluate he’s been very good.”
“I think I can play in the NHL, NHL decisions,” Vaakanainen, a first-round pick of the team in 2017 and with NHL eyes since the start of his offseason program, said. “But, it’s the coaches’ decision, so just have to wait for it.”
As Cassidy alluded to, the Bruins are expected to have some sort of an update on Krug, who was spotted in a walking boot, according to Joe McDonald of The Athletic, on Sunday.
Ty Anderson is a writer and columnist for 985TheSportsHub.com. He has also been a voting member of the Boston Chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association since 2013. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Ty? Follow him on Twitter@_TyAnderson.
