Torey Krug could miss entire 2024-25 season for St. Louis Blues

Defenseman diagnosed with pre-arthritic changes to left ankle, will be reevaluated in 6-8 weeks; if surgery is required, 33-year-old will miss upcoming season

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Blues could be without Torey Krug for the entire 2024-25 season.

The Blues announced on Tuesday the defenseman was diagnosed with pre-arthritic changes in his left ankle and will be reevaluated in 6-8 weeks once Krug works to rehabilitate the injury through non-surgical interventions over that time.

The injury is a cumulative result of a bone fracture suffered earlier in his career.

After that time, it will be determined whether the 33-year-old will require surgery, which will then put him out for the season.

Krug is officially considered to be out indefinitely.

The Blues recently signed veteran left-handed defenseman Ryan Suter to a one-year, $775,000 contract with incentives that could pay as much as $3 million and the 39-year-old would more than likely take the minutes Krug vacates should be miss the entire season.

The Blues also signed left-handed shooting defenseman P.O. Joseph to a one-year, $950,000 contract that would create some hefty competition for a spot in the top six on the left side behind Suter and Nick Leddy, with Joseph, Scott Perunovich and Tyler Tucker vying for positions.

Krug will be entering the fifth year of a seven-year, $45.5 million contract he signed Oct. 9, 2020; he played in 77 games last season and had 39 points (four goals, 35 assists).