I'm not excited about signing Krug at his expected price, but this isn't a fair criticism. He has only been a minus player at 5v5 once in his career. This year he was on ice for 43 goals for and 35 goals against 5v5 (despite being -4 overall). The only reason he's frequently been a minus player is because he plays a lot on the powerplay (where it's impossible to get a plus, but even good players pick up a few minuses) and with the empty net (which obviously presents a high likelihood of a goal against).
That's why so many defensive specialists seems to have great plus/minuses and many great offensive-minded players seem to be frequently minus players.
Fair point on the +/-, I guess.
But it doesn't stop Marchand from being a plus player 10 straight years. Or Bergeron 13 straight years. Or Krejchi 7 of the last 8 years.
Or Mcavoy every year so far.
Or Chara every year since his first year in Boston
I watched quite a bit of Bruins hockey over the last few years and this year.
Krug is a defensive liability.
See this year's series winner.
Krug gets owned on this shift 3 different times.
1) Point kicks Krug's ass on the dump in. Krug doesn't even try to get there first and then makes a week ass effort along the boards. Clean possession for Tampa.
2) Krug is owned in front of the net. Halak screened. Hedman scores.
It's hard enough to get outsized and outmuscled. But when you lollygag into your own corner in double OT and don't contest the puck battle??
I'd take Krug at a value price.
5x$5M
But I'm not paying the market price for him.
What's Barrie going to cost? Can you get him $2-3M cheaper?
But the truth is, I don't want Barrie, either.
We can't run Hronek-Seider-Barrie down the right side.
Hronek-Seider-Braun might work.
A veteran who you can play on the PK and assign some of the heavy defensive work.
A veteran who can carry the load or stabilize the ship with the sea gets rocky.
