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Bruins sign Torey Krug, Reilly Smith to avoid summer headache

Bruins sign Torey Krug, Reilly Smith to avoid summer headache

When Torey Krug and Reilly Smith signed one-year, $1.4-million bridge contracts last September, some predicted it would lead to a hellish salary cap-fueled negotiation this summer that could have cost the Boston Bruins one or both of the restricted free agents.

After all, the team has roughly $46 million committed to nine players already for next season.

But the deals were good ones for this season, and Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli came through with healthier deals for both on Friday: Krug signed a 1-year extension for $3.4 million and Smith was given two years at $3.425 million against the cap.

What might seem like overpayment may actually be the fulfillment of a promise made before the season: Take peanuts now so we don’t have to further blow up the roster, and we’ll take care of you later… 

From the Bruins:

In 58 games this season with the Bruins, the 23-year-old Krug has potted 11 goals (sixth on the team) and 20 assists (second among team defensemen) for 31 points (second among team defensemen) with a plus-six rating.

Smith has competed in all of the B's 62 regular season games thus far, and has registered 12 goals (fifth on the team) and 23 assists (fourth on the team) for 35 points (tied for second on the team) with a plus-11 rating (tied for second on the team).

At first glance, they got the term backwards. Did Smith get two years because he plays well with Patrice Bergeron?

If they were going to move either player, Krug is an exponentially more valuable commodity, and would be even more valuable with a second contract year at that hit.

(And no, it wouldn’t shock me to see them move Krug. At some point, the Bruins are going to have decide if they want to go long-term with a somewhat one-dimensional, zone-start protected defenseman.)

If nothing else, this helps the Bruins better understand their cap situation for the summer (so long, Carl Soderberg).

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