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It’s time to talk about David Krejci

December 12, 2018, 11:14 AM ET [16 Comments]
Anthony Travalgia
Boston Bruins Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
David Krejci takes a lot of heat for his $7.25 million cap hit and the production that comes with it as the Bruins highest paid player. It’s easy to point to Krejci’s point totals, and the lesser cap hits of Patrice Bergeron, David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand—all whom produce at a higher rate than Krejci—and call for the Bruins to part ways with Krejci.

Not too long ago Krejci was the Bruins number one center. But failing to replace wingers like Milan Lucic and Nathan Horton, and then the emergence of the Marchand and Bergeron duo pushed Krejci down the depth chart.

As the Bruins continued to try and find the right mix of forwards to slot alongside Krejci, his point numbers started to diminish. It’s hard to blame a playmaking center for not putting up points when he is playing with wingers who can’t put the puck in the net.

But this year’s version of Krejci seems to be a rejuvenated one, and one that deserves some praise. With 26 points in 31 games, Krejci is on pace for 69 points which would tie him for his second highest point total of his 13-year career.

The emergence of Jake DeBrusk since the start of last year has helped Krejci, but there is no denying that the Bruins and Krejci can benefit immensely from adding one more top-six forward to the mix.

Add that top-six winger, and Krejci very well could exceed his career-high point total of 73 which came in the 2008-2009 season.

If his play in the last three games is an indication of what Krejci will do this season with two talented wingers, general manager Don Sweeney better be working the phones, finding that top-six forward the Bruins so desperately need.

With Bergeron—who skated on his own Tuesday morning—still out of the lineup, Krejci has centered Marchand and Pastrnak the last three games. At times during Bergeron’s absence, Bruce Cassidy would put the three together for shifts when seeking more offense, but a fear of being too top heavy caused Cassidy to hesitate making the three a line permanently.

After a three-game losing streak continued to show the Bruins weaknesses, Cassidy finally made the call. Since Krejci began centering Marchand and Pastrnak, the Bruins have won three straight games and Krejci has a goal and five assists in the span.

“Yeah, it’s been fun. Those are two world-class players, so I’m just happy to be on that line and happy to help the team win games,” said Krejci.

Helping the team win games is exactly what they did Tuesday against the Arizona Coyotes. In a game the Bruins were struggling in, trailing 2-0, the Krejci line flipped the switch and flipped the game upside down.

In a little more than a four-minute span, the three combined for three goals and six assists. Krejci assisted on all three goals, with two coming from Marchand and one from Pastrnak.

“He’s pass first player, pass second player, third, and then he shoots,” said a smiling Pastrnak who also thinks that Krejci should shoot more.

“He’s got a good sneaky shot, and obviously players like me and Marsh [Marchand] has a little bit more of the goal scorer. Loves to play with like, you know Bergy [Bergeron] and Krech [Krejci] who always look to make the plays and then try to look for the guys, so it’s fun,” added Pastrnak. “You know, obviously for me it’s usually always I want to give it back to him, you know, and sometimes it’s in the position that all I have is empty netter, so you know, it’s fun to play with him.”

Obviously Krejci has been on the ice at times with Marchand and Pastrnak on things like the power play, but he’s now enjoying consistent five-on-five time with the Bruins top two wingers.

“Like I said, those two guys make so many good plays out there, so I’m just going to try to be in the right time at the right place, so you know, they make things happen,” said Krejci. “So much fun playing with those guys, so just filling in for Bergy, and like I said, just happy I can help the team win games.”

Krejci has shined playing with Marchand and Pastrnak for sure, but his play before the Bergeron injury wasn’t too far off from the production he’s had since. In 18 games before Bergeron’s injury Krejci had 16 points, averaging 0.88 points per game. Since the injury, Krejci has 10 points in 12 games, averaging 0.83 points per game.

With the loss of Bergeron and the promotion to the top center role, Krejci’s responsibilities have increased as well. Krejci’s all-around game has improved and he’s happy to be helping out in whatever role he can.

“You always want to play important situations – PK, important faceoffs, d-zone at the end of the game and stuff like that,” said Krejci. “I’m really happy that coach trusted me today, and like I said, I’m happy we got two points. It wasn’t easy, but glad we got it done tonight.”

“He makes nice plays, creative plays. He’s going to enjoy the game. I’ve noticed in the rest of his game he’s digging in. He knows he has to be a good defensive center for those guys. They’re creative wingers that will leak out of their spots from time to time to anticipate a play,” added Cassidy.

“That’s when you have to have a centreman, and that’s when Bergy’s so good at putting out those fires. That’s the part I’m enjoying, as a guy that gets down to the nuts and bolts, is the defensive part of it. I think he’s doing a nice job of not abandoning that part of the game and just trying to trade chances.”

It's been a week of milestones for Krejci. After passing Cam Neely for 10th place on the Bruins all-time points list on Saturday, Krejci skated in his 800th game on Tuesday.

When Bergeron comes back, Krejci will be bumped back to his usual second line center role. Do the right thing Sweeney, get Krejci the talented winger he, and the rest of the team needs.
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