2016 NHL Free Agency: Top 10 restricted free agents

Apr 19, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) skates with the puck defended by Detroit Red Wings defenseman Kyle Quincey (27) during the third period in game four of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Joe Louis Arena. Tampa won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

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Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Torey Krug

The Boston Bruins have a lot of questions to answer and numerous holes to fill during this offseason. While their blue line is something that they must address, the hole would be much larger if it wasn’t for Torey Krug.

Krug has given them an excellent puck mover who seems prepared to take on a larger role in 2016-17. Despite his size, he can more than hold his own defensively as well. Locking up Krug long-term has to be the number one priority of the Bruins’ offseason.

Krug compares favorably to the league’s premier defenseman. He’s not elite like Erik Karlsson and Brent Burns, but he’s probably in that tier that is just below elite. Krug’s constant improvement in his overall game has set him up for a significant pay day. But how big will it be?

If it’s a long-term deal, $5.5 million seems to be a good asking price, give or take a couple hundred thousand dollars. Krug is 25, so a six or seven-year deal is certainly not out of the question. The Bruins have made terrible mistakes in letting go of valuable defenseman. Hopefully they have learned their lesson and will keep Krug.

Next: 4. Tyson Barrie

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