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Torey Krug will not play this season for the St. Louis Blues because of an ankle injury that will require surgery.

The defenseman had earlier been diagnosed with pre-arthritic alterations in his left ankle, originating from a bone fracture he had incurred in his NHL career. In July, the Blues announced that Krug would undergo rehabilitation for the next 6-8 weeks before a reassessment to decide if surgery is required.

Last season, the 33-year-old scored 39 points (four goals, 35 assists) in 77 games for the Blues. This marked his fourth year with the team, following his signing of a seven-year contract worth $45.5 million ($6.5 million average annual value) on Oct. 9, 2020.

Last offseason, Krug suffered a foot injury and was sidelined for multiple games due to various injuries in his first three seasons with the Blues. However, he asserted in September 2023 that he refused to waive his no-trade clause.

“He expressed his desire to remain, saying, “I opt to remain here. The idea of being part of this room, enjoying playing for this city and donning the Bluenote excites me. I have a family to consider, plenty to contemplate, but ultimately, as I’ve stated, I want to stay here and carry the Note. Our locker room is fantastic and there’s a great atmosphere this year. I believe we can turn things around swiftly.”

Krug, who was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Boston Bruins on March 25, 2012, has accumulated 483 points (89 goals, 394 assists) in 778 regular-season games. He also has 57 points (11 goals, 46 assists) from 82 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

The Blues, who begin the regular season at the Seattle Kraken on Oct. 8, signed defensemen Ryan Suter and Pierre-Olivier Joseph to one-year contracts this offseason.