Krug 'very opposed' to settling for 1-year contract

Boston Bruins blue-liner Torey Krug is after long-term security this offseason, saying Thursday that he's against the idea of signing a one-year contract as he enters unrestricted free agency.

"I'm very opposed to that," Krug said, according to Matt Porter of the Boston Globe. "I've bet on myself and I've taken shorter-term deals and less amount of money my whole career now, so this is my time in terms of my value at its peak."

Krug, 29, signed a four-year, $21-million contract with the Bruins in 2016. His $5.25-million cap hit was well under market value considering his offensive abilities from the back end, and he's one of the top defensemen set to hit free agency.

The Bruins have over $15 million in projected cap space next season, according to CapFriendly. Jake DeBrusk and Matt Grzelcyk are in need of new contracts as restricted free agents, while captain and UFA Zdeno Chara confirmed Thursday that he wants to return for a 23rd NHL campaign.

Krug said in April, in the midst of the NHL's coronavirus-induced pause, that he hoped he hadn't played his last game with the Bruins. In mid-July, before Boston returned to the ice, the defenseman admitted he'd probably have to prepare to enter free agency.

Krug joined the Bruins for his first full season in 2013-14. Since then, he ranks seventh among all defensemen with 335 points in 520 contests while averaging over 20 minutes per night.

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