Krejci heading back to Czech Republic

Smiling Joe Hesketh

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I remember a little while ago he was concerned that his kids didn't speak Czech and thus couldn't talk to his parents, who don't speak English.

He'll be missed. Such a great player.
 

waffles.

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Damn. Krejci is going to be missed it was awesome watching him play especially when he got going in the playoffs.
 

Koufax

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Classy statement. He's leaving for a great reason.
 

cshea

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Fuck. This leaves a massive hole.

I'd retire 46, but he'll probably be just short. Thanks for everything, David.
 

TFP

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Yeah - all of my assumptions about the quality of their roster were based on him returning. Their bottom 6 looks a lot worse without Coyle in it.

What a career.
 

PedroSpecialK

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Best skater in two Cup finals runs, and no way the B's get past Tampa in '11 without him. Glad for him that he gets to go back and play in the CR on his terms.
 

Jordu

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15 seasons, more than 1,000 games including the playoffs, first-line center on the team that won the Cup. Always prepared, always a leader, tougher than people thought. He had a great career with the Bruins and was always a pleasure to watch. Heck of a hockey player.

Good for him and his family. He’ll always be welcome in Boston.

Big loss for the Bruins. Now we know why Sweeney talked about center by committee.
 

Foxy42

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Damn this stings. This feels like cup contenders to it being a real stretch. Was really hoping for one more year, inspired by Hall.
 

The Napkin

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Too bad there isn't anyone that speaks Czech in Boston that could teach it to his kids I guess.

This pretty much kills another cup run imho
 

NYCSox

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Remarkably scored at just about the same clip in the regular season and playoffs (roughly 0.8 PPG in each case and in a large sample). That alone is impressive.
 

durandal1707

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Thank you David Krejci. That pass to Nathan Horton for the Game 7 GWG against Tampa lives in my head forever.
 

The Gray Eagle

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I wonder if he might consider coming back near the end of the regular season for a playoff run? From what I can tell it looks like the Czech league regular season ends March 8. Maybe play there, reconnect, settle the family, then after his season there ends, head back to Boston for a couple months?
 

burstnbloom

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David Krejci has been one of my favorite players in my life as a Bruins fan. I loved his quiet game so much. In his prime, he was so skilled at lulling the defense to sleep and he was such an amazing passer that the puck would be in the back of the net before he knew what was happening. He remains a high level player and was excellent this year once they got him some wings. I had really hoped he would do 1 more year to get 1000 games in a bruins uniform. He deserved that honor but its also his choice to not get it. I hope he does great over there. He'll probably win some MVPs before he hangs it up. What a bummer for us.
 

NickEsasky

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Glad for Krejci that he gets to move home and be with family, especially for his kids. But this definitely sucks for the Bruins chances next season. If Sweeney knew this was the way he was leaning (and based on comments he had a hunch) it makes some of the moves they made this week head-scratchers. They must have a lot of confidence that Coyle is going to be healthy enough and talented enough to center that 2nd line.
 

cshea

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I wonder if he might consider coming back near the end of the regular season for a playoff run? From what I can tell it looks like the Czech league regular season ends March 8. Maybe play there, reconnect, settle the family, then after his season there ends, head back to Boston for a couple months?
They can't really do that. He'd need to be on the roster by the trade deadline to be playoff eligible. I'm not sure exactly when that is next year. but in normal years, which they hope next year is, it's usually prior to 3/8. The bigger problem is once he plays a single game in the Czech Republic he'd be subject to waivers if he signed with an NHL team. So the Bruins would sign him, put him on waivers and immediately lose him.

He's gone.
 

FL4WL3SS

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Was always a huge Krejci fan (don't own many sports clothing besides hats, have a Krejci shirt). I'm pretty pumped he's retiring as a Bruin.

If the pandemic has taught me anything, it's the value of family and friends. I support this move, good for him.
 

IdiotKicker

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No one moved slower faster. His ability to create openings with his patience and confidence in his ability to move the puck was so valuable to this team. Fantastic player.
 

tmracht

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Man my favorite player such that I got 6 different messages asking if I was okay. And I am, what a player I hope he enjoys his time at home <3
 

Boston Brawler

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I love Krejci. I may not be able to see the Bruins the next few years in person, but my family will be happy to drive to Czech to catch him play. I hope the do him the honor of retiring 46.
 

RG33

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This really needs to be a “Thank You, David” thread at some point after today.

Such a great player and teammate, so fun to watch play, such an instrumental part of 2011 (23 pts in 26 games), andthe consumate professional.

He will be missed, and a late season return to patch a 2nd line run for the playoffs would be welcomed. . .
 

ngruz25

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We were spoiled rotten to have Bergeron and Krejci at the center position for nearly two decades.

I guess with Krejci leaving, this closes the book on the great Eastern European prospects of the early 00's: David Krejci, Petr Kalus, and Martins Karsums. Final tally of 736 points with the B's between the three of them. Not bad!
 

jk333

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It was great watching Krejci for all these years. The next few years are going to be tough as Bruins fans with this generation declining and retirements. I guess Chara was a preview but for a few of us, Bergeron is going to be surreal.

Krejci is similar and hope he has great times at home. What was that Providence line? Krejci, Kalus and? Krejci was the only real player
 

Dummy Hoy

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Firsty, that's a really nice statement he (or his agent) put out. Pure class.

Really excited for him and his family, it sounds like a cool opportunity to get to play in front of family and introduce his kids to his home in a more immersive manner. I wouldn't be surprised to see him relocate back to Boston at some point in his life, though you never know.

I was usually low man on Krech, though some of my opinons of him changed as he got older. Him getting the A was an eye opener for me as far as what his teammates thought, and his work on the defensive side of the game improved substantially the last few seasons.

But when he was at the top of his game, he was a magician, one of the best I've ever seen at manipulating time and space.

Gonna miss watching him.
 

Kenny F'ing Powers

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I'm upset that I used up part of my 18% on this.

Great statement, fun player, never any bullshit or drama with him, and happy for him.

But fuck does this hurt the roster.
 

LogansDad

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This one hurts, but I have a lot of respect for him making this decision, and I'm excited for his family that he gets to go play in front of them.

He absolutely made the players around him better, basically every season he was here. This is a pretty crushing blow for the top 6 on the Bruins roster.
 

locknload

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Man this makes me sad. I'm happy for him but sad for the bruins. I'll really miss him coming over the blue line, hitting the brakes, and doing the matrix time morph. An all time Bruina and I'll really miss watching him and having my boys watch the way he controlled the game.
 

Myt1

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Too bad there isn't anyone that speaks Czech in Boston that could teach it to his kids I guess.

This pretty much kills another cup run imho
It really is unfortunate that this came out of nowhere and that the Bruins couldn’t have possibly anticipated needing a top 2 center anytime soon.
 

Zososoxfan

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Krejci will be one of a handful of names that will be forever associated with this extended run of Broons success of the past decade, along with Bergy, Marshy, and Big Z. 7th all time in games played for the B's with 962 (behind Bergy and Big Z). I won't ever forget him.

Seeing those highlights make me miss Looch and Horton a great deal.
 

Haunted

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I had to let this settle for a few days before posting.

I'm so bummed by this, far more than I thought I would be. Yes, there's the immediate concern about who the hell is going to plan 2C. There's other concerns too - what will this do to Hall's production, will this force them to make another move and potentially overpay, whatever. But none of those issues bother me right now. They'll get worked out, one way or another.


But Krejci was one of that team, and one of the key performers on it. He's been a rock for a decade or more. First line, second line, whatever. He's been there. He's been part of the Core that won a Cup and almost won two more. He's been a mainstay for this franchise since Dave Fucking Lewis was the head coach. He isn't the first to leave - Chara left already. But his departure marks, officially, the end of that era for me and I'm unreasonably bummed about it.
 

Kenny F'ing Powers

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I had to let this settle for a few days before posting.

I'm so bummed by this, far more than I thought I would be. Yes, there's the immediate concern about who the hell is going to plan 2C. There's other concerns too - what will this do to Hall's production, will this force them to make another move and potentially overpay, whatever. But none of those issues bother me right now. They'll get worked out, one way or another.


But Krejci was one of that team, and one of the key performers on it. He's been a rock for a decade or more. First line, second line, whatever. He's been there. He's been part of the Core that won a Cup and almost won two more. He's been a mainstay for this franchise since Dave Fucking Lewis was the head coach. He isn't the first to leave - Chara left already. But his departure marks, officially, the end of that era for me and I'm unreasonably bummed about it.
Completely different kind of team, but there was definitely a 70s Bruins vibe with the Krejci/Chara/Bergeron generation. Several cup appearances, some championships left on the table, and an endearing perseverance where - even if they didnt win - they were going to kill themselves trying.

I agree with you. This bums me out more than Z - maybe because one guy is still playing and the other is across the globe - and feels much more significant.
 

cshea

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Krejci still hasn't shut the door on returning to the Bruins.

View: https://twitter.com/SWhyno/status/1491395092627656704?s=20&t=zqlWCgpObBctF4nrXVPHpA


Logistically, this year feels like a long shot. His regular season in the Czech league ends on 3/8. To be eligible for the NHL postseason, he'd have to sign with Boston by 3/21. His Czech team is not very good (11th) but everyone except the bottom 3 teams (13-15) make the playoffs. They do only have a 4-point lead on the first team out of it, so anything is possible (and Krejci is currently in Beijing at the Olympics so if the team is playing, they are doing so without their best player), but it's likely that the team at least make the first round which is a best of 5. It seems like an awfully tight window for him to lose in the Czech playoffs and then sign prior to 3/21. Of course, if the timing does work out, he still needs to clear waivers after signing which is could be another problem. NHL GM's are babies though and not sure if anyone has the stones to claim him simply to prevent the Bruins from having him.

More realistically, I wonder if he comes back next year for one last go? Especially if Bergy comes back for another year?