Bruins Craic: McGuire Backs Up Krug To Habs Suggestion

Could the Montreal Canadiens make a major push for Boston Bruins defenseman Torey Krug if Krug becomes an unrestricted free agent whenever NHL free agency begins? NHL On NBC Between The Glass Analyst Pierre McGuire told TSN 690 back in late February that he thinks the Canadiens should be a major player for Krug if and when he becomes a UFA and on the latest Bruins Craic Podcast, McGuire doubled down on that theory.

“I’ll tell you one thing when I say stuff, I don’t mean to throw it out there on a lark,” McGuire clarified to my co-host Kevin Flanagan and I. “That’s why there will be times when I qualify something and I’ll say ‘Hey, don’t be writing on Twitter that I said something that I didn’t say. When I say it – and I do radio shows across the country as you know – I mean it. So when I said it, that if I were Marc Bergevin, I would make a run at Torey Krug if and when he becomes an unrestricted free agent, it’s because I meant it.” 

As McGuire pointed out, with likely at least $6.8 in cap space to spend this offseason, Habs GM Marc Bergevin would be wise to do what it takes to get a player that could fill a variety of needs for his team.

“He fixes a lot of what ails them,” McGuire explained. “They’re a very easy team to forecheck because they don’t have an elite puck-moving defenseman. They don’t have a quarterback for their powerplay, they haven’t had one for a long time. Their powerplay is something that hasn’t been good enough when you consider a lot of the artillery that they have. Could you imagine Krug putting it on the sweet spot for Shea Weber with a one-timer? You could see him getting the puck through to the net, like he does in Boston, with Brendan Gallagher jamming the front of the net. I mean he would really change the dynamic of the Montreal Canadiens’ powerplay and he’d make them and he’d make them a much more difficult team to forecheck.”

Given what Krug told the media on Tuesday, that nightmare scenario for Bruins fans isn’t that far-fetched.

“For me personally, I really hope I did not play my last game as a Boston Bruin,” said Krug who has reiterated more than once that he’d like to sign a long-term extension with the Bruins. “It’s been a special place for me and my family to grow. My love for the game and playing in front of these fans has been very special to me. But [this situation] hasn’t given me any clarity. It makes you wonder about this process a little more because I was just in the moment thinking only about helping my team win games and hopefully push our team toward winning a championship.”

McGuire also expects the Detroit Red Wings to push hard to bring the Lavonia, Michigan native back home.

“Detroit is obviously where he hangs his hat. His family’s there, his brother’s the coach at Adrian College, a really good Division 3 program and he went to Michigan State,” McGuire pointed out. You gotta think that in a rebuild, that Detroit would have a huge desire to add him but you would think that there would be a lot of other teams that would be interested too.”

For more on McGuire’s thoughts on Krug, the state of the Bruins and some fun anecdotes on how he became the most Cliff Clavin of hockey, listen here.