St. Louis Blues Rumors: Krug Linked To 5 Teams

The St. Louis Blues are in sell mode, but they aren't completely going into a rebuild. Instead, they are retooling and clearing cap space. They have already cleared out two big contract up front and are now turning their attention to hopefully move one of their top-four defencemen seeing as they each eat up a fair amount of cap space.

Of the three Blues' defenders that are making $6.5 million AAV, Colton Parayko may get the most attention, but Torey Krug will generate some interest as well. David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period lists five teams that have been linked to Krug ahead of the 2023 Trade Deadline - Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, and Ottawa Senators. We'll take a look at each and why they likely have some interest.

The Flames have a fair deal of cap space available this season and are under pressure to even make the postseason after big changes this past offseason. Their defence has been missing pieces this season as Erik Gudbranson left in free agency and Oliver Kylington has missed the entire season due to personal reasons. Though the team got MacKenzie Weegar in a trade, they could still use a big upgrade and have the means to pull off a trade. The team signed Weegar and have their other bigger-name defencemen signed through next season, but could look to add an offensive mind like Krug to the mix as well with some salary retained. It may be tricky seeing as Krug has a no-trade clause right now, but he could also see an opportunity in Calgary.

The Oilers may be looking for a defensive upgrade and have definitely checked around, but also may be happy going forward this season with their seven defencemen they've had success with recently. They are very strapped for cap and have been linked to Parayko more so than Krug. The left side could use an upgrade if Brett Kulak were to be moved, but Philip Broberg is also blooming into a top-four defenceman already and a trade would hold him back.

The Panthers need to reset in the offseason even though they aren't out of the playoff race this season. A lot of cap space is being freed up for them to work with and their left defence needs a major upgrade. The Panthers are a team to watch closely in any rumours involving a left defenceman, especially an offensive one like Krug.

The Wild are using up a ton of cap space the next two seasons after the buyouts of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, so the team is going to have to find value in players and not be dishing out too much money. Matt Dumba will be off the books after this season at the very latest, so there will be a spot on defence and a bit of cap space. If the Blues and Wild could work out a deal to have salary retained for the next two seasons only, a deal could be made. The team does need something to help elevate them to being a real contender, but it will likely have to come at forward.

The Senators just freed up a lot of cap space by trading Nikita Zaitsev to the Chicago Blackhawks in a cap dump. This is the type of move they would only make now if they plan on adding a defender with term this season. Krug could definitely fit the bill, even though the Senators need help on the right side more than the left. Regardless, if there's a deal they like, they won't be too picky with the handedness of their defenders, as long as they do the job.