One more "What if?" eliminated. Army announces Krug will miss the 2025-26 season

[TAFKAP]

With a Lower Body Injury. Armstrong said "Unfortunately it doesn't look like Torey Krug will be available this season. I've spoken to him today. He's doing well but he's not in any way, shape, or form able to play hockey".

Per NHL News Updates on Facebook.

[DawgDad]

I sincerely feel sorry for Krug, hope he heals up and avoids long term issues.

[Backesdraft]

I sincerely feel sorry for Krug, hope he heals up and avoids long term issues.

This. Don’t wish any any ill will. He was put in a tough spot, but that isn’t his fault. Hope he has a great life after hockey and that the blues use his cap money wisely.

[TruBlueFan_1970]

Probably a longshot, but would this maybe get Krug to agree to a trade to ANY team, given he won’t be playing hockey, so he doesn’t really have to move his family? Thinking of a team needing LTIR space or a team needing to get to the cap floor. Kind of a Shea Weber contract scenario where “his contract” was traded several times IIRC.

And yes, wish him well in his post hockey health.

[bluetunehead]

Probably a longshot, but would this maybe get Krug to agree to a trade to ANY team, given he won’t be playing hockey, so he doesn’t really have to move his family? Thinking of a team needing LTIR space or a team needing to get to the cap floor. Kind of a Shea Weber contract scenario where “his contract” was traded several times IIRC.

And yes, wish him well in his post hockey health.

Nobody really needs LTIR space. It only helps in situations where a player can come back healthy in the postseason. That’s not Krug.

Now that Arizona is Utah with functional ownership, there aren’t as many options for teams looking to dump these contracts.

[Old_Goat]

Probably a longshot, but would this maybe get Krug to agree to a trade to ANY team, given he won’t be playing hockey, so he doesn’t really have to move his family? Thinking of a team needing LTIR space or a team needing to get to the cap floor. Kind of a Shea Weber contract scenario where “his contract” was traded several times IIRC.

And yes, wish him well in his post hockey health.

Nobody really needs LTIR space. It only helps in situations where a player can come back healthy in the postseason. That’s not Krug.

Now that Arizona is Utah with functional ownership, there aren’t as many options for teams looking to dump these contracts.

Well I suppose in a way we could need/use the LTIR space?

[Boomac]

Probably a longshot, but would this maybe get Krug to agree to a trade to ANY team, given he won’t be playing hockey, so he doesn’t really have to move his family? Thinking of a team needing LTIR space or a team needing to get to the cap floor. Kind of a Shea Weber contract scenario where “his contract” was traded several times IIRC.

And yes, wish him well in his post hockey health.

The Coyotes did this for a little bit just to reach the cap floor. With Utah having real a real ownership group now, I don't see them or any other team really needing to do this anymore.

[skilles]

lol Army is not very good at acting like he is disappointed Krug can't play.

[bluetunehead]

Probably a longshot, but would this maybe get Krug to agree to a trade to ANY team, given he won’t be playing hockey, so he doesn’t really have to move his family? Thinking of a team needing LTIR space or a team needing to get to the cap floor. Kind of a Shea Weber contract scenario where “his contract” was traded several times IIRC.

And yes, wish him well in his post hockey health.

Nobody really needs LTIR space. It only helps in situations where a player can come back healthy in the postseason. That’s not Krug.

Now that Arizona is Utah with functional ownership, there aren’t as many options for teams looking to dump these contracts.

Well I suppose in a way we could need/use the LTIR space?

Nah it doesn't do anything to help. If anything it just makes the start of the season more complicated because we'll need to send guys down or put a couple on waivers to make sure we can fit Krug under the cap before he officially goes on LTIR.

Right now with Krug we have 5M in cap space, plus whatever chunk of his 6.5M we can eventually stash on LTIR, so up to around 11.5M total.

If he wasn't on the team anymore we'd have... 11.5M in cap space, and we wouldn't have to worry about getting cap compliant by sending guys down for day one.

[TruBlueFan_1970]

Probably a longshot, but would this maybe get Krug to agree to a trade to ANY team, given he won’t be playing hockey, so he doesn’t really have to move his family? Thinking of a team needing LTIR space or a team needing to get to the cap floor. Kind of a Shea Weber contract scenario where “his contract” was traded several times IIRC.

And yes, wish him well in his post hockey health.

Nobody really needs LTIR space. It only helps in situations where a player can come back healthy in the postseason. That’s not Krug.

Now that Arizona is Utah with functional ownership, there aren’t as many options for teams looking to dump these contracts.

Well I suppose in a way we could need/use the LTIR space?

Nah it doesn't do anything to help. If anything it just makes the start of the season more complicated because we'll need to send guys down or put a couple on waivers to make sure we can fit Krug under the cap before he officially goes on LTIR.

Right now with Krug we have 5M in cap space, plus whatever chunk of his 6.5M we can eventually stash on LTIR, so up to around 11.5M total.

If he wasn't on the team anymore we'd have... 11.5M in cap space, and we wouldn't have to worry about getting cap compliant by sending guys down for day one.

Exactly the point of my original post. Hoping some bottom feeder needs to get to the cap floor, or a top team right at the cap, wants him for an extra player or two during the season with the LTIR space. In other words, trade him right after the start of the season to Dallas, who are cap strapped and could use his LTIR badly. Then we have a legit $11.5m of space, minus what we’ve spent to that point.

[Old_Goat]

Probably a longshot, but would this maybe get Krug to agree to a trade to ANY team, given he won’t be playing hockey, so he doesn’t really have to move his family? Thinking of a team needing LTIR space or a team needing to get to the cap floor. Kind of a Shea Weber contract scenario where “his contract” was traded several times IIRC.

And yes, wish him well in his post hockey health.

Nobody really needs LTIR space. It only helps in situations where a player can come back healthy in the postseason. That’s not Krug.

Now that Arizona is Utah with functional ownership, there aren’t as many options for teams looking to dump these contracts.

Well I suppose in a way we could need/use the LTIR space?

Nah it doesn't do anything to help. If anything it just makes the start of the season more complicated because we'll need to send guys down or put a couple on waivers to make sure we can fit Krug under the cap before he officially goes on LTIR.

Right now with Krug we have 5M in cap space, plus whatever chunk of his 6.5M we can eventually stash on LTIR, so up to around 11.5M total.

If he wasn't on the team anymore we'd have... 11.5M in cap space, and we wouldn't have to worry about getting cap compliant by sending guys down for day one.

Good point...

[roadkillIL]

So.... this might be an unsmart question but im gonna do it. Since it appears Krug cannot medically play, what are the Blues responsibility as far as pay goes? It is the Blues best interest if he just retires and frees up his salary. From what I understand, if he doesn't then the Blues are on the hook to pay him, correct? Then the LTIR scenario kicks in? The situation is that this is a terminal injury with no chance of returning as an active player in the NHL. I was of the understanding LTIR was for players who are, long term, able to return, or a chance to return, to the ice. Perhaps I am looking at it in too narrow of the LTIR window (re: able to return to play).

[skilles]

Probably a longshot, but would this maybe get Krug to agree to a trade to ANY team, given he won’t be playing hockey, so he doesn’t really have to move his family? Thinking of a team needing LTIR space or a team needing to get to the cap floor. Kind of a Shea Weber contract scenario where “his contract” was traded several times IIRC.

And yes, wish him well in his post hockey health.

Nobody really needs LTIR space. It only helps in situations where a player can come back healthy in the postseason. That’s not Krug.

Now that Arizona is Utah with functional ownership, there aren’t as many options for teams looking to dump these contracts.

Well I suppose in a way we could need/use the LTIR space?

Nah it doesn't do anything to help. If anything it just makes the start of the season more complicated because we'll need to send guys down or put a couple on waivers to make sure we can fit Krug under the cap before he officially goes on LTIR.

Right now with Krug we have 5M in cap space, plus whatever chunk of his 6.5M we can eventually stash on LTIR, so up to around 11.5M total.

If he wasn't on the team anymore we'd have... 11.5M in cap space, and we wouldn't have to worry about getting cap compliant by sending guys down for day one.

Exactly the point of my original post. Hoping some bottom feeder needs to get to the cap floor, or a top team right at the cap, wants him for an extra player or two during the season with the LTIR space. In other words, trade him right after the start of the season to Dallas, who are cap strapped and could use his LTIR badly. Then we have a legit $11.5m of space, minus what we’ve spent to that point.

That is not how it works, Why would you think the contract helps a cap strapped team? and if it did why in the world would we get rid of it?

Taking on Krug does not help Dallas any way what so ever.

[TruBlueFan_1970]

Exactly the point of my original post. Hoping some bottom feeder needs to get to the cap floor, or a top team right at the cap, wants him for an extra player or two during the season with the LTIR space. In other words, trade him right after the start of the season to Dallas, who are cap strapped and could use his LTIR badly. Then we have a legit $11.5m of space, minus what we’ve spent to that point.

That is not how it works, Why would you think the contract helps a cap strapped team? and if it did why in the world would we get rid of it?

Taking on Krug does not help Dallas any way what so ever.

Then why in the world did VGK acquire Shea Weber a few years back. It absolutely gives a team extra LTIR space to spend on players during the season. Now there are rules on being cap compliant on day 1 of the season, but even that has loopholes. It’s exactly what the Blues will do this year, just like last year. Once Krug goes on LTIR, they will exceed the cap. Not saying he’s going to Dallas, just used them as an example. Also, not trying to be a jerk, but your point about it not working that way has been proven wrong over many seasons and examples. Most of the time, the player comes back for the playoffs, but not always, like Weber. Why would we get rid it? Save a few bucks as a middle market team. Insurance covers the majority of the contract, but there is still money owed. We would still have the same amount of cap space, but it would all be regular space, and not LTIR which is preferred.

Dallas is hurting and it would give them wiggle room. Here’s a recap of the Weber shenanigans. Read closely under. Vegas where it talks about salary cap relief.

Here's a more detailed breakdown:
The initial trade: The Canadiens traded Weber's contract to the Golden Knights for Dadonov.
Salary cap implications: Weber's contract, with a cap hit of $7,857,143, was acquired by Vegas for salary cap relief, as he was unlikely to play due to injuries.
Weber's injury status: He had not played since the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs and was placed on long-term injured reserve by Vegas.
Subsequent trade: After about a year, Vegas traded Weber's contract to Arizona.
Weber's career end: His playing career effectively ended after the 2021 playoffs, though he didn't officially retire

[bluetunehead]

Vegas didn't acquire Weber to help their cap despite what Google might suggest, they acquired him because they were dumping Dadanov's contract. They traded an active player on their roster they didn't want to Montreal and in return took Weber because he could be put on LTIR. They didn't just take on Weber because it would help them. They were moving someone else they didn't want. That's where the salary cap relief was... cap dumping Dadanov.

If a team acquires Krug, they have to fit him under the cap first, before he goes on LTIR. Teams up against the cap cannot do that. It's not magic.

[skilles]

Vegas didn't acquire Weber to help their cap despite what Google might suggest, they acquired him because they were dumping Dadanov's contract. They traded an active player on their roster they didn't want to Montreal and in return took Weber because he could be put on LTIR. They didn't just take on Weber because it would help them. They were moving someone else they didn't want. That's where the salary cap relief was... cap dumping Dadanov.

If a team acquires Krug, they have to fit him under the cap first, before he goes on LTIR. Teams up against the cap cannot do that. It's not magic.

I hope this clears up the confusion