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Torey Krug
Torey Krug
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After signing a pair of one-year contracts, Torey Krug finally has himself a long-term deal he’s been trying to earn.

That’s the power of arbitration for you.

The Bruins locked up the scrappy 5-foot-9 defenseman to a four-year deal worth $5.25 million a year, with a limited no trade in the last two years, thus avoiding a battle at the arbitration table. The signing comes before the start of today’s opening of free agency, preventing Krug from being exposed to the threat of an offer sheet.

General manager Don Sweeney said the timing of the deal was not necessarily “paramount.” Keeping the player was.

“Torey’s got a very, very unique skill set that’s important to our hockey club,” said Sweeney. “He’s had a very productive three years. His role this year, his time on ice, in all situations increased significantly. He was able to shoulder much, much more responsibilities in all parts of the game. He’s a young player who is invested in the Bruins organization. He wants to win, he does things the right way every time he comes to the rink. He wants to get better. He’s not satisfied.

“All the things you want young players to identify with. Torey has really been identified as part of our emerging core leadership group.”

The deal, Krug’s fourth, puts him in good company. Columbus just signed potential future No. 1 defenseman Seth Jones to a six-year deal worth an average annual value of $5.4 million in Jones’ second contract, the Ducks just signed Sami Vatanen to a four-year deal worth $4,875,000 in his third pro deal, Toronto’s Morgan Rielly was signed to a six-year deal worth $5 million AAV and Dallas signed John Klingberg to a seven-year deal worth $4.25 million before last season, perhaps the best deal in the league.

Klingberg is the only player to have had better season than Krug, production-wise, though Krug struggled through his worst goal-scoring slump of his career (54 games). Krug had 4-40-44 totals, leading all Bruins defensemen in points and assists. His 21:36 of ice time was second to Zdeno Chara’s 24:05.

Krug was relieved with his long-term certainty.

“Those first couple of contracts, the one-year deals, they were something that I was fully aware of, the lack of security and things like that,’ said Krug. “But I knew if I did this thing the right way that I’d put myself in a good position individually to accomplish some security for myself and my family. I did the work and I was lucky enough to come away with this great opportunity for the Bruins presented to me. I knew the work I had to do to accomplish that, and I do feel a sense of relief.

“But by no means does that stall my hunger, my drive to become a better player and to help this team even more. I’m not done growing and developing as a player and I’ve not accomplished any of my goals. I’m here to win a Stanley Cup.”

Krug underwent major shoulder surgery after the season, but he hopes to be ready for opening night.

“I feel great right now,” said Krug. “With everything that’s gone on in my life and I’m excited for what’s happened recently, I think it’s only going to help me move my recovery back that much further. I’m pushing to be out on the ice opening night with my teammates. I think it’s a realistic goal I’m striving for.”

The Bruins now have a little more than $19 million under the salary cap. The most glaring need is defensemen, but the talent pool is shallow. And a defenseman won’t come cheaply on the trade market either.

“Well, I think you saw what was exchanged in the last day or so to understand the value of those players,” said Sweeney with a chuckle.

Sweeney is still talking to his main UFAs — Loui Eriksson, John-Michael Liles and Lee Stempniak — and sounded most optimistic about Liles.

He did acknowledge, though, “I just haven’t found common ground, and I know this gets harder and harder as we go further along in this process.”

When Sweeney took over for Peter Chiarelli last summer, one of his mandates was to shed salary. He did so by dealing Milan Lucic and Dougie Hamilton and yesterday bought out Dennis Seidenberg.

He now has the ability to improve the roster. It won’t be easy.

“The flexibility piece is now there,” Sweeney said. “Now it’s a matter of making it happen, whether it’s through free agency or a trade.”