Krug to undergo season-ending ankle surgery

Torey Krug will miss the entire 2024-25 season after making the decision to have surgery on his left ankle.

“I fractured it six years ago in the playoffs when I was with Boston, and in the last few years, it’s started to get worse and worse,” Krug told reporters on Wednesday at Centene Community Ice Center. “Last year was tough managing the pain level, and this summer, I wasn’t able to do any of the things I needed to do to prepare for the NHL season. I tried to work through it and find a way to train, and obviously we’re here now because I couldn’t and I’m going to have to go in there and get it fixed.”

The surgery is intended to address pre-arthritic changes in his ankle after non-surgical options failed.

“When it got to the point of being on the ice was starting to hurt it a lot, that’s when red flags went up that it might be something I needed to take care of,” Krug said. “I don’t know what a healthy ankle feels like as far as pain level. It’s always there.”

Since signing with the Blues in 2020, Krug has played in four seasons in St. Louis - posting 146 points (22 goals, 124 assists) in 255 regular-season games. The 33-year-old defenseman has played in 778 NHL games overall.

“When you miss a whole year of hockey, [your career] cross your mind,” Krug said. “Hockey player-wise… not many, if any at all (have returned from this surgery)… It’s just something I have to take care of, take it day by day, week by week, month by month and go from there.

"Looking forward, I can’t forecast too much, just have to stay in the moment.”