ST. LOUIS – Defenseman Torey Krug’s career in the NHL is likely over.

The 34-year-old missed the entire 2024-25 season for the St. Louis Blues after having left ankle surgery.

The Blues announced on July 16, 2024 that the defenseman was diagnosed with pre-arthritic changes in his left ankle and would be re-evaluated in 6-8 weeks once Krug worked to rehabilitate the injury through non-surgical interventions over that time. But it was evident he needed a major procedure done and it was immediately known then that his career would be in jeopardy.

The injury is a cumulative result of a bone fracture suffered earlier in his career with the Boston Bruins.

"I don't really think there's much uncertainty with Torey," Armstrong said at Tuesday’s end-of-season media availability. "I talked to him. He was at the rink the other day; he's just getting almost normal, day-to-day living with his leg, his ankle.

I'm not expecting him to play again. Now, he's hoping that I'm wrong, I'm hoping that I'm wrong and he's pushing, but the surgery that he had, it was very, very invasive."

Krug spoke on Sept. 4 prior to training camp and was emotional about the potential of his career being over.

“Thirty-three years old and when you miss a whole year of hockey, obviously those things cross your mind," Krug said at the time. "I don't want to look too far ahead, but those are things you definitely think about.

"I've always wanted to see my kids watch me play and see how hard I work. I don't think regardless of what you're doing, they're going to see, even if it's away from the rink, how hard I work, being a parent, working on the house, doing stuff in the yard, they're going to see that. I just think it's in your DNA. It's tough but the mental side of it's just going to be just as tough as the physical side."

Krug has played 13 seasons in the NHL, the first nine with the Boston Bruins before he signed a seven-year, $45.5 million contract ($6.5 million average annual value) with the Blues on Oct. 9, 2020. He played 778 regular-season games and has 483 points (89 goals, 394 assists) and played in two Stanley Cup Final series with the Bruins, losing to the Chicago Blackhawks in six games in 2013 and losing to the Blues in seven games in 2019.

"You want to win a Stanley Cup and I've had a chance to compete for ... I went to two finals and you make the playoffs so many times and you understand what comes with the job, all the injuries," Krug said. "There's other things that obviously come into play that I can make a living for a family and set up your kids. You don't want to trade that. A lot of great memories for sure."

Krug still has two years remaining on his contract but will need to remain on long-term injured reserve for the Blues to have his $6.5 million cap hit to spend at their disposal.