TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 20: A St. Louis Blues player skates away from the net after a stoppage in play during the regular season NHL game between the St. Louis Blues and Toronto Maple Leafs on October 20, 2018 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON. (Photo by Jeff Chevrier/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The St. Louis Blues appeared to face a significant challenge heading into the 2024-25 season, with an excess of left-handed defensemen and limited roster spots. However, the situation may have resolved itself without any trades. On July 16, news broke that Torey Krug has a pre-arthritic condition in his ankle, jeopardizing his season.
The team announced that Krug will undergo non-surgical rehab and be reevaluated in 6-8 weeks, just before preseason. If surgery is needed after this period, Krug could miss the entire 2024-25 season, which could be a substantial setback—or perhaps not.
Fans now face two scenarios: some wanted Krug gone and might welcome seeing the team without him, while others speculate about the timing of the announcement. There is a belief that the team might have known about Krug’s condition for some time, especially considering the recent signings of Ryan Suter and Pierre-Olivier Joseph, potentially preparing for this exact situation.
Though some view this as a possible conspiracy, believing the team has been aware of Krug’s condition, it’s unlikely Krug would risk his future earnings by feigning an injury.
The condition is real, and the team must now wait to see how Krug’s rehab progresses, with the possibility of once again facing a surplus of defensemen if he returns healthy. General Manager Doug Armstrong likely made these moves to ensure the team was prepared for any outcome.
