Krejci/By S. Bradley
BOSTON — David Krejci might’ve struggled a bit adapting to life as the Bruins’ No. 1 center during the regular season.
In the playoffs, however, and all the way through the Bruins’ Stanley Cup championship run, he rose to the occasion and established himself as a player Boston could build around.
Krejci tied for the team lead with 62 points during the regular season but scored just 13 goals. In the playoffs, he nearly matched his goal total with 12 and totaled 23 points in 25 games.
“I think there was some ups and downs during the season,” said Krejci, who was thrust into the No. 1 center’s role because of Marc Savard’s concussion problems. “But I think still, at the end of the year, I think it wasn’t awesome but it was a good regular season. And then in the playoffs … I think we played really well and I think we played just like a first line should play.”
Krejci centered Milan Lucic and Nathan Horton nearly all season. That he was able to put up such great numbers while Lucic was battling a broken toe and Horton was fighting through a separated shoulder is a testament both to his winger’s resiliency and his talents. It helped that Krejci, who two years ago played through a hip injury that required offseason surgery and last season saw his season ended in the second round due to a dislocated wrist was “100 percent.”
Handling life as the focus of attention to opposing top defense pairs took some getting used to. In the biggest moments of the postseason, Krejci and his linemates took care of business.
“I’d done it before a couple years ago when Savvy was hurt, or Bergy, I had to be in their spots,” said Krejci. “So I was kind of used to it. But this year it was a whole season. So I had some tough games, but I still think it was a good year. And especially in the playoffs, I thought we were dominant as a team, as a line. I’m pretty happy.”
The 25-year-old Krejci is signed for next season, as are Lucic and Horton. So the Bruins should have their top trio together for another season.
“We’ll worry about it later,” said Krejci.
My bet is put Caron in Recchi’s old place. Caron is a big body who can set some screens and shoot from the high slot, sounds a lot like Recchi’s skill set. Keep Seguin with Peverley and Kelly so he can keep watching good centers at work and match speed with the Peverley Hills Ninja.
That gives you 3 seriously dangerous lines who are a threat to score on any shift. My hope is that they pick up a defender through free agency, but if not that then they sign Krejci to a few more years and maybe give Pev/Kelly a 2 year contract and shop for a defender at the trade deadline.
Krejci played his best when it counted the most. Best group of centers in the nhl.
For some reason I have a hard time seeing that line mesh. Bergeron and Squirrel are the consumate ‘grindas’.
Seguin played best last year while paired with Peverley and/or Ryder. I could see Seguin with Horton and Looch before Bergy and Marchy. Call me crazy.
If you put Seguin with Marchand and Bergeron the Bruins will have two very powerful scoring lines.
I almost wonder if Caron won’t be winging Bergeron while Seguin stays on the third line.
I think Krejci has great vision, but I think he is one of those guys that works best when his wingers are shining and working hard. I think that is one thing about that whole KHL line-when Horton and Lucic were doing well so was Krejci. If just one of them was doing well, Krejci could usually still work something.
I also agree that Krejci did better when he wasn’t used for the PK-but then think part of that was the fact that Julien was able to throw the HKL line out when the other team’s defense might be a little tired from the PP.
There is a part of me though that thinks Krejci will not be a Bruin for the long haul and at some point he will leave in free agency or through a trade deal. I don’t think this year is that year though-after all he was the top scorer through the playoffs and proved himself capable of being a #1 center.
I’m hoping Seguin can earn or be given some time on Bergy’s wing next season. That would limit his defensive downside and make a really fast, skilled second line. I feel like he really needs to get a chance with some other skilled players to see what he is capable of. Of course, there is the chance that Caron may be there too.
You trade him only if you get a #1 back. DK is really young and could easily put up 100 points next season. The key is that he can. Whether he does is another question. He is now such a proven playoff performer, in addition to a good regular season player, that he is getting harder to trade away. I agree that he is good trade bait going into the last year of his contract, although he will be an RFA
I don’t trade him unless I am wowed
Bergeron was and is our best forward. The point totals were solid despite the concussion, and he was a dominant player in his own zone (+15 if I recall). How about the faceoff work too! Just an awesome postseason for Bergy. Can’t wait to see his chemistry with Marchand continue to develop, and I’m pretty interested to see who will fill Rex’s spot on that line.
I don’t think Montreal shut him down as much as they took care of his wingers. Canadiens are a tough match up for the Bs b/c they are so so quick.
As for DK – I have been a big advocate for using either he or Looch in a trade to upgrade the front-line. But I might be backing off a little with Krecji. This is not the first time I think he elevated his game in the playoffs. He was really working it last year as well before Richards ended our season.
I agree – he’s not necessarily a #1, but I’m not sure how much you improve the Bs by replacing him. If you keep him – that means you’re pushing Tyler to wing until he can one day (hopefully) assume that number 1 pivot spot.
Guy is a money player as best I can tell. One better be careful trading away a commodity like that. Sedins of course providing exhibit A perfectly.
I agree with MCK on this, Krejci had a great 2 rounds and a decent SCF. Montreal shut him down and Vancouver did a good job against him as well. He was our best forward, but TT won the Conn Smythe for a reason, and then there is the matter of our top D pairing.
My guess is that DK is not a fan of the dump and chase “system”. I am torn, I love having him in Boston, but he could be a real beast in a team with a smarter offense. I think he will want to be traded if CJ stays.
I think his game picked up as he was dropped from the PK unit (thanks Peverly/Kelly)
I don’t want this to turn into one side bashing DK and another defending him. He played great in most of the games in the playoffs. He scored, dished and played excellent two-way hockey.
With all due respect, he wasn’t their best player. I would hope he can use this performance to become a “#1″ center the way Savard was, and drop 25 goals and 60-70 assists next season. That is what they need from him. As it stands, a guy who scores 15 goals and has 40 assists is not a “#1″ center. I hope and think he can elevate his game. He can clearly score, he just needs to shoot it a little more.
He lead the playoffs in scoring. I didn’t see a No.1 center that had more points than him or play in his own end like him. He’s the best player on a championship team.
Big DK fan, and I was impressed by the way he handled the pressure of being the top pivot despite the fact he’s really more of a strong #2. With Krejci, Bergeron, Kelly, Peverly, Campbell, Seguin and possibly Savard, the Bruins are strong at the position without any true #1. Since the formula obviously works, now would be a great time to let the Ryder and Kaberle money go and lock up a guy like Krejci to a few more years before they get too close to his free agency. At minimum, this guy’s a lifetime second line center, and there’s potential for him to be much more than that.
If 12 goals this postseason don’t make him shoot more, nothing will. He needs to shoot way more. He can score.
@mg, right! And with how light today’s stick are a flick of the wrist is often enough. A decent shot can be delivered from 25-30 feet in a split second. Wristers from the blue line should be used more often in this league. Setting up for a one timer slap shot has become more and more difficult over the years, and that goes for PPs as well.
He needs to shoot more. Quick shots on goal produce rebounds if not goals.
@Derek
Your comment substantiate the fact or belief that euro player do have a stronger tendency to sag during the course of a long season. Of course there are exceptions.. Datsiuk, Lidstrom, Zetterberg, Bryzgalov..but there is somewhat of a trend here about this. I read something along those lines from Paul on here the other day.
Oh I think his playoff performance makes him either more likely to be kept or perhaps more likely to be traded depending on what the return is.
During the season I often thought he might be dealt, post playoffs and with it looking like Savard is done, keeping Krejci may be considered the better move, but who knows.
I think Chia did a pretty good job of trading to fill the gap left by Savard, and I think Krejci did a pretty good job during the playoffs of stepping up and performing (although Montreal pretty much shut him down).
TCL, you are right on some levels I think. On the flipside, he is a proven playoff performer, not someone who wilts (Sedins). Tough call there because he isn’t a prototypw number 1
He’s underrated in his defensive end. I think he gets bored with the regular season, two years ago, it took the Olympics to get him going and after that he was a beast.
I was impressed with Krejci. When he went down in the series last year, I knew it was over. We need his smooth stick handling, passing and patience to set up his linemates. Imagine if Horton and Lucic were healthy all playoffs? Deadly line combination.
KHL!
I like Krejci-and I think he has more talent than he is often given credit for, but I sometimes wonder if Krejci may not be one of the players they would consider dealing for an upgrade if it was an known factor.