NHL Star Forced Into Sudden Retirement After Devastating Injury
They entered Sunday's Game 7 against the Winnipeg Jets coming off a big 5-2 win to force the winner-take-all showdown at the Canada Life Centre. And when they began the third period of that game with a two-goal lead, they likely felt good about their chances of advancing.
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However, a goal from Vladislav Namestnikov with two minutes left in regulation, and an improbable goal from Cole Perfetti with just three seconds left forced an extra period. Adam Lowry ended the Blues' season 16 minutes into the second overtime, forcing them to start their offseason early.
And when general manager Doug Armstrong spoke with reporters on Wednesday during St. Louis' end-of-season press conference, he dropped quite a bombshell about one of his star players.
St. Louis Blues defenseman Torey Krug (47) and Dallas Stars center Matt Duchene (95) battle for control of the puck during the second period at the American Airlines Center.Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Armstrong revealed that defenseman Torey Krug is likely being forced to retire due to a severe ankle injury he suffered back in September that forced him to miss the entire season.
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'I'm not expecting him to play again,' Armstrong said. '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.
'I don't really think there's much uncertainty with Torey. 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.'
Krug, a 34-year-old former All-Rookie Team selection, is five seasons into the seven-year, $45 million contract with the Blues back in 2021.
He spent his first nine seasons with the Boston Bruins, who signed him as an undrafted free agent back in 2012. He was named one of the top 100 Best Bruins Players of all time, and he was the first player in franchise history to record four points in a single game in the Stanley Cup Final.
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'Thirty-three years old and when you miss a whole year of hockey, obviously those things (retirement) cross your mind,' Krug said in September. 'I don't want to look too far ahead, but those are things you definitely think about. … It's tough, but the mental side of it's just going to be just as tough as the physical side.'
Related: Matthew Tkachuk Sparks Outrage After Mitch Marner Video Surfaces
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