The St. Louis Blues 2021-22 season represented a major transition for the franchise. No longer a stout defensive team built from the blueline out, they finished second in the NHL in goals scored, with nine forwards recording 20-plus goals. Though the season came to an end in a six-game defeat by the Colorado Avalanche in the second round, there are plenty of highs and lows to reflect on. In this series, we’ll evaluate each player who played 10 or more games with the team (as well as the head coach and general manager), grading their individual performance and looking at their future with the team.
Coming off an inconsistent first season with the Blues, Torey Krug entered the 2021-22 campaign with a lot to prove. The Blues signed him to a seven-year, $45.5 million immediately before former captain Alex Pietrangelo departed for the Vegas Golden Knights, which immediately burdened Krug with unfair expectations from Blues fans. Starting with a clean slate in the 2021-22 season gave him a chance to prove that he has a lot to offer St. Louis. Let’s take a look at how he did.
What Went Right: Offensive Excellence
As ever, Krug proved that he is an excellent offensive defenseman. He led Blues defensemen in points per game (0.67) and notched nine goals to go along with 34 assists. He also led Blues defensemen in expected goals for percentage (xGF%) at 52.72%. That metric measures the balance of play and scoring chances when a given player is on the ice. Statistics suggest that Krug is an elite puck possessor and a borderline game-breaking offensive defenseman.
Krug’s superlative play extended to the power play, where he led the team in time on ice (TOI). He led Blues defenders in power play goals and assists, and his 16 power play assists ranked second only behind Vladimir Tarasenko on the entire team. By every measure, Krug was a strong offensive defender at even strength and an outstanding one with the…
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