Longest Active Tenured Former Spartan NHL Player’s Career May Be Over

It has been a great NHL career for Torey Krug. The defenseman from Royal Oak, Michigan, has been a staple in the National Hockey League for over a decade. 

Before he was manning the blue line for St Louis Blues, and the Boston Bruins before that, Krug played for his home state Michigan State Spartans. During his time in East Lansing from 2009-2012, Krug was able to register 83 points and was a captain for the Spartans for two seasons as well.

Despite a 53-48-14 record during his time skating at Munn Ice Arena, he did help the Spartans get to the NCAA Tournament in 2012. During that 2011-12 season, Krug showed that he was one of the best blue-liners in College Hockey. He was named an All-American and finished as a Hobey Baker Award Finalist.

Advertisement

That led him to sign a pro contract with the Boston Bruins following that breakout junior season with Michigan State.

He quickly became one of the best young defensemen the NHL had to offer. He was named to the 2014 All-Rookie First Team, as he helped the Bruins finish as the top team in the NHL, as they won the Presidents’ Trophy in his rookie season.

From there, Krug continued to be part of some very successful Bruins teams. His success on the defensive end of the ice helped the Bruins reach the Stanley Cup Finals in 2019, only to lose to the Blues. Despite the loss, Krug became the first player in Bruins history to record four points in a Stanley Cup Finals game.

Following that season, Krug made the jump to the defending Champion Blues. Signing a huge seven-year contract.

Advertisement

Despite the major contract, the last several years have proved to be very rough for Krug. The once elite defender has dealt with a lot of injuries over the last couple of seasons.

The most recent injury was his ankle, and it kept him off the ice for the whole 2024-25 season. And now, according to St Louis Blues General Manager Doug Armstrong, he could be done at the NHL level.

” I don’t think there’s much uncertainty with Torey,” Armstrong said via the Boston Globe. ” I talked to him, he was at the rink the other day, he’s just almost getting (back) to normal day-to-day living with his leg (and) ankle, so I’m not expecting him to play again. I’m hoping and he’s hoping I’m wrong, and he’s pushing, but the surgery that he had was very, very invasive.”

It’s always tough to see an injury end a career, especially when a player still has a lot to offer. Krug has given his life and body to being at his best. The 34-year-old meant so much to both organizations he played for.

Advertisement

So if it is indeed the end of the line for Krug, it has been a good run. He is the Bruins’ all-time leading scorer among American skaters, which isn’t a bad mark to have for an Original Six organization.

Krug likely finishes with a mark of 778 career games over 13 seasons, tallying 89 goals, 394 assists, and 483 points. Best of luck to Krug; he was special, especially after joining the NHL as an undrafted player.

Related: Team USA Adds Spartan Star to the 2025 Men’s Hockey Tournament Roster