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Bruins’ Krug: ‘I’ve never been a player USA hockey liked all that much’

Dallas Stars v Boston Bruins

<> at TD Garden on November 5, 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts.

Jared Wickerham

The reaction continues to filter in from those supposedly in the running to make the U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team.

Boston Bruins’ defenseman Torey Krug one of the latest to voice his disappointment at being kept off the squad.

The 22-year-old undrafted Krug, you’ll recall, had played three NHL games prior to last spring but then burst onto the scene in a big way during the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs.

His name would be entered into the record books, becoming the first ever NHL defenseman to score four goals in his first five playoff games.

Despite being perhaps a bit undersized - he’s listed at five-foot-nine-inches tall and 181 pounds - Krug can not only skate but has shown an offensive upside for the Bruins. His eight goals coming into Thursday’s game against Nashville were only two fewer than Erik Karlsson’s 10, which lead all NHL blue liners.

“They can say all they want, but I never really had a sniff. I’m a younger guy, and coming into the league at my age gives you more opportunities to put yourself in a position to be considered for an Olympic team,” Krug said Thursday, as per CSNNE.com.

“But I’ve never been a player that USA hockey has liked all that much, for whatever reason. Maybe it’s a size thing? I don’t know. I’m just worried about things that are going on with the Bruins.

“If down the road I’m considered for such a thing it would be pretty special, and pretty cool. I’ll just keep working hard, and if they do send the call my way then that would be cool.”

Of course, there was even great controversy to come from the U.S. hockey announcement at the conclusion of Wednesday’s Winter Classic.

Phoenix Coyotes defenseman Keith Yandle wasn’t named to the team, despite 27 points in 39 games this season. He called the decision, ”...a tough pill to swallow.”

Ottawa Senators forward Bobby Ryan was also left off the team, ripped by Brian Burke and left to respond by calling his former general manager “gutless.”

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