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David Krejci

Boston Bruins Re-Sign David Krejci

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Aug 9: Krejci’s contract will include a full no-trade clause, and the performances bonuses are based on the following thresholds, according to CapFriendly:

  • 10 games played: $1.0MM bonus
  • 20 games played: $500K bonus
  • Playoff qualification: $500K bonus

Aug 8: It’s not just Patrice Bergeron who is returning today. The Boston Bruins have also officially announced a new contract for David Krejci, bringing him back from overseas for another go-round with the club. The veteran forward has signed a one-year, $1MM contract that includes an additional $2MM in potential performance bonuses.

Like Bergeron, Krejci comes with a contract that includes performance bonuses that can be pushed to the 2023-24 season if the Bruins end up not being able to fit them in under the cap this year. Unlike Bergeron though, Krejci isn’t coming off a Selke Trophy season, in fact, he’s not even coming off an NHL season.

The 36-year-old went back to Czechia last year, stating that he wanted his family to be able to see him play in their native land. In 51 games for Olomouc HC, he scored 20 goals and 46 points, while also attending the Olympics, scoring four points in four games. It was his performance at the World Championship, when he was reunited with Bruins teammate David Pastrnak, that really showed how effective Krejci could still be. In ten games at the event, he racked up 12 points, helping Czechia to a bronze medal.

He’ll now return to the only NHL team he ever played for. Krejci, a second-round pick in 2004, spent 15 years in Boston before going back to Europe, playing in 962 games with the Bruins. He registered 215 goals and 730 points during that time, while also being a dominant playoff performer. On two different occasions, he led the entire league in postseason scoring, with one of those times resulting in a Stanley Cup championship. His return will give the team another center option at a bargain-bin price.

Still, while Bergeron’s numbers have remained strong, Krejci had already been experiencing something of a downward trend in recent years. He scored just eight goals in 51 games during the 2020-21 season, and 13 in 61 the year before that. While he’s always been known more for his playmaking ability, there should be at least some concern about his scoring touch after more than a year away from the NHL.

The good thing for the Bruins is it barely matters, as Krejci comes in just barely over the NHL minimum, at least for his base salary. Most teams in the league would likely be willing to add a player of his stature for that amount, even if there is at least some risk that he can’t keep up anymore.

For Boston, getting the band back together this offseason was the obvious goal, though there is still some work to be done. Pavel Zacha remains unsigned after they acquired him from the New Jersey Devils, and Pastrnak needs an extension if he’s going to stay with the Bruins long-term.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Latest On David Krejci

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After spending a year playing overseas, it appears as though David Krejci may be on his way back to Boston. Multiple reports have emerged today including from Kevin Weekes of ESPN that Krejci is currently in negotiations with the Bruins to re-join the team for 2022-23. General manager Don Sweeney admitted he had been in touch with the veteran forward a few days ago but wouldn’t go so far as to say contract negotiations were underway at that point.

Krejci, 36, spent this past season playing in his native Czechia, where he racked up 46 points in 51 games. It was at the World Championship where the itch to return to Boston might really have started, as he rediscovered that instant chemistry with former teammate David Pastrnak en route to a bronze medal finish.

With the Bruins also expected to bring back Patrice Bergeron for at least one more year, it appears as though the team is trying to give it one more kick with the old core–a group that had so much success for so many years. Krejci himself had 730 points in 962 regular season games, all with the Bruins, and led all players in scoring during both 2011 and 2013 trips to the Stanley Cup Final.

One of the most cerebral playmakers of his generation, Krejci has never relied on speed to produce at a high level, instead creating space for himself and his teammates with ultra-quick decisions and awareness. His presence behind Bergeron down the middle of the Bruins lineup gave the team a one-two punch that was hard to beat, and fans in Boston will likely be excited to see them reunited, should both contract negotiations end positively.

With so many players on expiring deals, there will be a chance for Boston to embrace a true retool next summer. For now, it appears as though they’re trying to get the band back together.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Bruins Notes: Pastrnak, Krejci, Bergeron, Coaching Staff, LTIR

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Following the completion of the draft yesterday, Boston GM Don Sweeney met with reporters including Eric Russo of the Bruins’ team website to discuss several items pertaining to his team for next season.  While talks have begun regarding an extension for winger David Pastrnak, Sweeney was quick to mention that no numbers regarding the length of a new deal or financial terms but made it clear that the team intends for Pastrnak to be a lifelong Bruin.  The 26-year-old is coming off a 40-goal season and has one year left on his contract with a $6.67MM cap hit and should be able to receive a max-term deal (eight years with Boston, seven if he hits the open market next summer) worth a couple million more than his current rate.

More from Sweeney’s press conference:

  • The team has not yet heard if David Krejci is interested in returning to the NHL for next season. The 36-year-old spent 15 years with Boston before deciding to go back home to his native Czechia for this past season where he had 20 goals and 26 assists in 51 games with HC Olomouc.  When he left, Krejci didn’t rule out a return to the NHL and his return would certainly help bolster their center depth next season.
  • Another center they’re waiting for in terms of making a final decision is Patrice Bergeron. The 36-year-old has been suggested to be leaning towards a return but Sweeney stated that no final decision has been made yet.  However, Sweeney suggested that the contract wouldn’t be an issue, which suggests that the parameters of a deal are in place if Bergeron does officially decide to return.  It’s possible that a final decision is made before free agency opens up on Wednesday.
  • Assistant coaches Joe Sacco, Chris Kelly, and Bob Essensa are all expected to return behind the bench next season with new head coach Jim Montgomery. Meanwhile, interviews continue to fill the vacancy created with the dismissal of assistant coach Kevin Dean earlier this offseason as Boston looks for a new coach to oversee their defensemen.
  • Sweeney is unsure as to whether or not the team will utilize LTIR to start next season. Winger Brad Marchand plus defensemen Charlie McAvoy and Matt Grzelcyk are all expected to miss the start of the year after undergoing surgery but knowing that all will return, it would be difficult to make a big signing this summer and then try to clear money midseason when those players are ready to return.

Snapshots: Krejci, Reimer, Islanders

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Recent rumors of a potential return of David Krejci to the Boston Bruins were shut down by Bruins’ GM Don Sweeney today, reports Joe Haggerty of Boston Hockey Now (link). Sweeney said that Krejci has decided to stay home with his family in the Czech Republic.

The Bruins have been looking to possibly add to their forward depth as the trade deadline approaches, and the former Bruins star center had been rumored to return almost since he announced he was returning to Europe after last season. Krejci had been a cornerstone for the Bruins for much of his career, totaling 215 goals and 515 assists in 962 career games.

  • The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reported that interest in San Jose Sharks goaltender James Reimer had been picking up, however he’s not sure if the Sharks will end up wanting to move the goaltender. Reimer has another season at $2.25MM left on his contract and has performed well for the rebuilding Sharks. After a promising start tot he season, the Sharks have fallen off, however they could be in line to turn the corner on their rebuild faster than expected, and keeping Reimer around could help to facilitate that. On the other hand, several teams are in need of goaltending, and Reimer’s extra year at an incredibly fair $2.25MM cap hit could land San Jose a return that is too good not to take.
  • The New York Islanders announced prior to their game against the Philadelphia Flyers this afternoon that forward Cal Clutterbuck and defenseman Andy Greene were day-to-day and are being held out of today’s game for maintenance purposes. While that certainly may be the reason, it is important to note that both players are pending UFAs who are candidates to be traded by the trade deadline tomorrow. Also worth mentioning is that the Islanders are a very tight-lipped organization and could be holding their cards close.

Olympic Notes: Czechia, Johnson, Team USA

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David Krejci may be gone from the NHL but he’s not off the international stage. The former Boston Bruins star was one of 24 players named to the preliminary Czechia roster for the upcoming Olympics. The final group will be named later this month, but Krejci certainly feels like a lock at this point. Among the other names that will be familiar to NHL fans are Tomas Kundratek, Jakub Jerabek, Vladimir Sobotka, Tomas Hyka and Michael Frolik.

One name unfortunately not included is Jaromir Jagr, the 49-year-old who first appeared on the Olympic stage in 1998, winning the gold with a Dominik Hasek-led squad. Jagr has 19 points in 29 games with Kladno, the team he owns at the highest level of Czech hockey. A member of the exclusive Triple Gold Club, Jagr also has two World Championship golds and won the Stanley Cup twice with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

  • While it was obvious that Owen Power would be part of Team Canada after he starred for his country at last summer’s World Championship, another one of his college teammates appears to be coming with him. Rick Dhaliwal of CHEK TV tweets that Kent Johnson will also represent Canada at the Olympics next month. The Columbus Blue Jackets selected Johnson fifth overall in 2021 and the extremely skilled forward is currently leading the powerhouse University of Michigan program in scoring with 28 points in just 19 games. There will be quite a few Wolverines taking part in the tournament, just months before many of them are set to sign entry-level NHL contracts.
  • ESPN will reveal the full U.S. squad later today on The Point, where several Michigan players will be officially named. The squad should have a large college hockey presence, making it a unique experience for many of these young players. In a year where many were robbed of an opportunity to compete for a World Junior medal, they could bring home an even rarer one from Beijing.

Snapshots: Krejci, Lundqvist, Chabot

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When David Krejci announced he was leaving the NHL to play at home in the Czech Republic this season, he left the door open to an NHL return.  However, that return won’t come this season after the Extraliga season comes to an end.  In an interview with iROZHLAS earlier this week, the veteran indicated that he would not return to the NHL to join Boston for the stretch run but wouldn’t rule out playing back in the NHL in 2022-23.  Krejci would have to clear waivers in order to sign that late in the season anyway and it’s unlike that Boston or any other team would have been able to get him through unclaimed.

Elsewhere around the hockey world:

  • How close was Henrik Lundqvist to attempting to return to Washington last season? In an interview with Goteborgs-Posten (translated by the NHL’s website) the veteran netminder was only three days away from flying out to rejoin the Caps before being diagnosed with pericarditis, ending those comeback hopes in the process.  Lundqvist opted to retire earlier this summer and mentioned that he will need another surgery on his heart at some point in the future.
  • After finishing behind only Drew Doughty in average ice time per game, it appears that Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot will have a slightly lighter workload next season. Head coach D.J. Smith told Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch that his intention is to have the 24-year-old carry a lighter workload; the scribe pegs that target around 23 minutes per game.  That would be a sizable drop from the 26:17 he logged last season; in fact, the only time that he has averaged below 23 minutes a game was his rookie season in 2017-18.

Coyle, Forbort Expected To Step Into Top Roles For Bruins

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With the unexpected departure of David Krejci, the unknown status of injured Tuukka Rask, and a shockingly busy first day of free agency that included adding a number of top names, there are plenty of questions surrounding the Boston Bruins and how they may look next season. With so many possible lineup combinations and the team having yet to even practice together once, it would be understandable to leave fans wondering how the team may be structured in 2021-22. However, head coach Bruce Cassidy is not afraid to hint at his plans. Speaking with beat writer Eric Russo, Cassidy was open about who he sees stepping into some of the most important vacancies in the Bruins lineup.

First and foremost on the minds of most is who will step into Krejci’s role as second line center, especially after Taylor Hall was re-signed following stellar production with Krejci and Craig Smith. Well, despite some speculation to the contrary, Occam’s Razor prevails. Third line center Charlie Coyle will indeed get the first shot at centering the second line, as Cassidy called him the “obvious choice”. Coyle may be coming off of the worst offensive season of his career, but the two-way forward will be healthy this season following off-season knee surgeries and will look to return to form, which is a player whose career full-season scoring pace is 40 points. Cassidy notes that with Hall and Smith having experience playing together and Coyle and Smith also having played together, the familiarity that the three would share makes it an easy initial choice as the team’s second line. However, Cassidy does note that free agent additions Erik Haula and Tomas Nosek both play their best at center as well and could be next in line if Coyle is not a fit.

On defense, while some were content with the Bruins’ most frequent top pair of Matt Grzelcyk and Charlie McAvoy, not everyone was convinced. Count Cassidy among that group. The head coach opined that the role may have been asking too much of Grzelcyk. He believes that free agent addition Derek Forbort, who plays a much more defensive and physical style, could in fact be the better match with McAvoy. Cassidy stated that between competing for that role and likely playing alongside Brandon Carlo on the top penalty kill unit, Forbort will be expected to play “big minutes”. Of course, Forbort will have to prove himself worthy, as Grzelcyk has the advantage of being the incumbent. Cassidy noted that Mike Reilly will likely continue to play with Carlo, but that too could change if Grzelcyk is bumped from the top pair.

Elsewhere on the roster, Cassidy firmly stated his support for Connor Clifton as getting the first shot as the regular third pair right-handed defenseman in the wake of Kevan Miller’s retirement. However, he also noted that youngsters Jakub Zboril and Urho Vaakanainen as well as recovering veteran John Moore all have experience playing their off side and will compete for opportunity. In the bottom-six, Cassidy offered a vote of confidence for Jake DeBrusk retaining his starting job as third line left wing, while also advocating for top prospect Jack Studnicka to get a look for a roster spot. With the versatility of additions Haula, Nosek, and Nick Foligno, there are plenty of potential combinations on that third line and there is a high likelihood of a more offensive fourth line in Boston than in years with the overflow of the third line position battle matched with the likes of Curtis Lazar and Trent Frederic. In goal, Cassidy did not just announce free agent splurge Linus Ullmark as the new starter; in fact quite the contrary. Cassidy expects Ullmark and breakout rookie Jeremy Swayman “to compete for the majority of the starts.” While Ullmark was compensated like a starter by the Bruins in both salary and term, Cassidy notes that Swayman will be given a fair chance to “come in and potentially be the No. 1.”

How it all plays out in Boston remains to be seen, but Cassidy did not hold anything back about his thought and plans for the current roster. That should give fans of the Bruins and their Atlantic Division rivals something more concrete to consider as the days tick down to the start of the regular season.

David Krejci Returning To Czech Republic

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August 2: HC Olomouc of the Czech Extraliga announced that they’ve signed Krejci to a one-year contract.  Krejci spent time in that program 20 years ago, playing in 26 games in 2000-01 with their Under-18 squad.

July 30: The highest name remaining on our Top 50 UFA list was David Krejci, who was eerily quiet through the first two days of free agency. Now we know why. The veteran forward has announced that he will not be returning to the Boston Bruins or signing with any other NHL team, explaining that he will return to play in the Czech Republic.

Though he doesn’t call it retirement, Krejci’s NHL career is over for the time being:

Since the end of the season, as I have thought about my future, it has become clear that I need to make a difficult decision for my family and I. At this point in my career and life I need to return to the Czech Republic and play in front of my family who sacrificed so much to help me achieve my NHL dreams. I want to play in front of my parents, brother and friends. I want my children to live where I grew up, spend time with so many Czech family members who love them and create lifelong memories. 

It seemed odd when the Bruins decided to fill so many spots at the start of free agency, signing Nick Foligno, Erik Haula, Derek Forbort, Linus Ullmark and Tomas Nosek, while also committing money to re-signing Taylor Hall and Mike Reilly. Now it’s clear that there was never a need to save roster or cap space for Krejci after all.

The 35-year-old center has been one of the most consistent players in the NHL over his 15-year career, recording 730 points in 962 games. Every single one of those contests was completed while wearing the spoked B of the Bruins, most of them without stable linemates. For what has seemed like his entire career, the Bruins had been searching for a true partner to Krejci on the second line, something they had appeared to have finally found in Hall, though it will turn out to be too late. This decision now opens up more questions about how coach Bruce Cassidy will deploy his group, and who will anchor that second spot behind captain Patrice Bergeron.

Perhaps one of the most underrated players of his era, Krejci has been a huge reason for the Bruins’ success. In the 2011 Stanley Cup championship, it was a 24-year-old Krejci, not Bergeron, who led the entire playoffs in scoring with 12 goals and 23 points. Two years later when the Bruins would make it back to the Finals, it was again Krejci who led the league with 26 postseason points. Overall, should he not return to the NHL, he’ll finish with 124 points in 156 career playoff games, including eight game-winning goals.

With Foligno and Haula joining the Bruins and Charlie Coyle still in the mix, the team will have options at the center ice position. But it’s hard to imagine any of them filling the role that Krejci did, even up to this season. In 51 games, he may have scored just eight goals, but still managed to rack up 44 points.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Taylor Hall, David Krejci Not Looking To Maximize Salary On Next Deals

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When the Boston Bruins held their end-of-season media interviews today, a few things stood out. First, several players including Tuukka Rask were dealing with serious injuries, but perhaps, more importantly, was the idea that many pending free agents hope to return to Boston. Taylor Hall was asked about his future and was quite clear he’d like to stay a part of the Bruins organization:

I see a fit. Hopefully they feel the same…hopefully we can make that happen. 

I don’t even know what my value is at this point, I feel like I had two different seasons. I’m not looking to absolutely maximize my value at this point in my career. I’ve been fortunate enough to make some good money in this league and at this point it’s about more of a fit for me than money or a long-term thing. We want to find a home for the next few years here.

Hall was an excellent pickup for the Bruins at the deadline, acquired from the Buffalo Sabres after his dreadful first half. In 16 games down the stretch in Boston he had eight goals and 14 points, while adding another five points in 11 playoff matches. Coming off a one-year, $8MM contract from last summer, Hall has been clear in all of his interviews that he sees Boston as a good fit for the next part of his career. Whether the two sides can come together on a deal is still to be seen, but he is obviously willing to hear them out.

During his interview, Hall noted that there are some other players on the Bruins that have been around the team longer and will have to be sorted out first. One of those is his linemate David Krejci, who is coming off a six-year, $43.5MM deal with the team and is also a pending free agent. The difference perhaps is that Krejci is now 35, meaning a long-term deal is certainly out of the question. Similar to Hall though, the veteran forward isn’t looking to maximize his salary, explaining that his next deal “is not going to be based on money.” Krejci said he can’t see himself playing for another team, but also admitted he hasn’t made a firm decision on his future at this point.

Even though he is now in his mid-thirties, Krejci’s offensive production hasn’t really slowed down. He registered 44 points in 51 games this season and added another nine in 11 playoff games. The 35-year-old’s hands are still as silky as ever, even though his skating may not be quite as powerful as it once was. There’s a milestone to be had in Boston should he return, as Krejci is just 38 games away from 1,000 in his career, to this point entirely spent in a Bruins uniform.

As much as Hall, Krejci and Rask have all indicated they would be open to a return, Bruins GM Don Sweeney has made difficult decisions before when it comes to an aging free agent. Just last season he parted ways with franchise icon and longtime captain Zdeno Chara when it was clear the big defenseman’s role would be drastically diminished. With Charlie McAvoy and Patrice Bergeron needing new contracts after next season and David Pastrnak scheduled for unrestricted free agency a year after that, Sweeney and the Bruins front office will have to delicately balance the transition from the current core to the new one. It might come with some difficult decisions.

David Krejci Receives Max Fine For Slashing

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One penalty call from Friday night’s Game Four between the Boston Bruins and New York Islanders has gone through quite the roller coaster review process and yet questions still remain. The NHL Department of Players Safety has announced that Bruins forward David Krejci has received a maximum $5,000 fine for “slashing” on Islanders forward Mathew Barzal in the second period last night.

Slashing though was not even the original call. The penalty in question was called when Krejci used his stick to jab Barzal between the legs in last night’s contest. The initial call on the ice was a major penalty for spearing. However, when the officials reviewed the call, they reduced the penalty to a minor for slashing. Player Safety seemingly felt that the play deserved further scrutiny and decided on supplemental discipline for Krejci, but they too considered it slashing.

Upon further review, it is hard to watch the play and call it anything less than spearing. With that said, the reduction in the penalty may have also been partially a make-up call by the on-ice officials. The crew missed repeated cross-checks by Barzal against Krejci before the veteran decided to deliver his own brand of justice against the youngster. Upon reviewing the play, the officials may have decided that their own inaction led to the penalty and felt that Krejci did not deserve five minutes in the box. It also seems likely that Barzal helped the penalty along with some acting.

The officials missing calls against the Bruins has been a storyline in this series (and last) as well. Boston head coach Bruce Cassidy spoke out after the Game Four loss, stating that he didn’t think his team was getting a fair amount of calls in their favor during the postseason. Krejci was also critical of the officiating and of Barzal. The question now is whether the comments of the respected coach and veteran will make any impact when the Bruins and Islanders start fresh with a tied series in Game Five on Monday.

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