Krejci/By S. Bradley
While the rumor mongers were devising different plots to get David Krejci out of town, the Bruins were working on keeping their No. 1 center in the mix.
Today Boston announced a three-year contract extension with Krejci.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but one Twitter report said the annual cap hit under the current Collective Bargaining Agreement would be $5.25 million per season. TSN reporter Darren Dreger also tweeted that Krejci has a modified no-trade clause for years two and three of the deal.
Krejci was scheduled to be a restricted free agent next summer.
Krejci shared the team scoring lead during the 2010-11 regular season. He then led all scorers with 12-11-23 totals in 25 playoff games during the Bruins’ run to the Stanley Cup championship. This season in 20 games he’s posted 4-9-13 totals.
In recent weeks, Krejci had been the subject of trade rumors, in particular with regard to Anaheim forward Bobby Ryan. Now we know what those murmurs were worth.
Bojangles, Bruins16, Not going to happen!
I’m bleu blanc rouge to the core and yeah, it’s not a fun time right now but I’m not going to turncoat on my team.
That being said, I still reserve the right to praise a club who’s front office is clearly doing a good job.
You guys had decades of that neanderthal Harry Sinden. I’m glad you have the top people running the show right now.
I wouldn’t call 3/15.75 a steal but I think it’s fair market value for a center that’s going to put up 60-80 points. Montreal pays that for guys that put up 40-60 points.
He was a point a game player in the most important twenty five game stretch in decades.
its not only his skill, he is a good locker room guy, he ‘fits in’. probably the biggest intangible on this team is the locker room chemistry. why screw around?
I disagree with any idea that a “big name” signing is necessary for this team. as much as possible, keep the core in place and fill in around the edges “when necessary”.
the only “necessary” move this season seems to be “don’t screw around” and lets keep what we got…
Before last night, Krejci was at .53 ppg. These types of numbers change so quickly this early in the season, especially if a player has missed a few games.
He’s struggled to start the season – that’s pretty hard to deny. He can definitely be streaky, but he’s 25 years young, and that scoring average is likely going to increase. That’s what happens more often than not, with a talented young individual (especially when he’s playing with talented, young, developing teammates).
This situation feels a little bit like Lucic’s extension to me, in that a lot of people were saying Milan was getting overpaid before he was actually getting paid the higher salary figure. I don’t think there are too many people around the league who would claim that Looch is overpaid right now.
At 3.75M, David Krejci likely represented one of the 10 best per dollar values in the league last year; that’s a bit off the cuff, but I feel it’s an accurate statement (Actually, when you include his postseason performance, I think that he would be a lock for that designation). Give him a chance to earn that higher figure.
I think he’s got the ability to become a PPG player.
Pierre
Your right, Bergy should be paid more than Krecji.
I think there’s a hope Krejci will be almost a point per game as the new deal unfolds.
MK
everyone needs to stop saying this is a slow start. through 20 games (his slow start) his point per game average is just barely shy of his career. .71 – .65.
it’s not a slow start, he is who he is.
He shouldn’t have gotten more than Bergy.
I’m very happy with this signing. While Krejci does tend to be streaky (heck, who on his line isn’t?) when he is at his best he can compete with the best of them.
For those fretting about all the players that need to be signed I think the first thing to keep in mind is that the cap usually increases each year. While I obviously can’t predict by how much it will increase the last increase was roughly 7.6%. Even assuming it only increased next year by 4% that would still be about $2.57mil more.
Which isn’t to say you can keep everyone and there is the whole CBA thing to be dealt with, but it’s not as tight as it sounds.
@Sean – Peverley already signed a 3 year extension.
Imo – Kelly should be next, but Campbell should be on the list too. His PK skills cannot be over-rated.
David Krejci is a clutch player. A lot of people see a slow start (likely a combination of the hangover + not having a contract + a little core knick), or point to the fact that he’s not quite a PPG player and forget that when the games really start to matter, this guy tends to rise to the challenge.
Flat out brilliant at the 2010 Olympics (I saw him play live twice during that tourney, he was basically the best player on the ice during those games – Jagr was pretty damn great too), outstanding in the playoffs two years ago before the wrist, and then followed it up by leading our team in scoring during a cup run.
He plays all three zone, he can play in every situation, he is a heavy plus player with a special skill-set and solid intangibles. The guy has outstanding chemistry with Looch and Horty, his teammates love the guy.
He’s also 25, and his best years are very likely ahead of him.
I think some people in this day and age tend to use fantasy hockey relevance as a barometer for moves like this. It can get a little silly (although truth be told, I won my pool last year which paid for a chunk of my game 3 ticket, and Krejci was on my roster ; )
This is a great move. I thought we’d get him for Bergy’s number, but this is close enough. Tuukka next, please!
Congrats to Krejci and PC.
You cant have enough centers. The cup run proved that. This deal permits the Bs to keep him or trade him, just like any other deal.
The mettle shown to me in the playoffs makes this worth it.
Ryan is a really exciting and gifted player, but I don’t know if he’s ‘a fit’. If DK were ever traded (and I don’t see that happening this year any longer), I’d be much more in favor of a Parise.
A very good deal. I read a report that Krejci would command $6+ million to re-sign. This is a good deal for the Bruins and I think for Krejci. The additional cap hit (for next year) is only $1.5 million and therefore leave room to sign Tuukka Rask and Peverly.
For those of you saying that the B’s have 3 quality centers -I think that you need a reality check – Campbell is not exactly chopped liver, and neither is Kelly (although he is used on the wing), and Seguin is not just biding his time before he resumes his logical place.
Chiarelli , I think, is perhaps one of the more sensible GM’s in the league and has a better understanding of the current players agreement. The only move that I was disappointed with was moving Joe Colborne.
Jack,
The bruins are deep at center no question. They also don’t lean on one line, no question.
But, to claim that there is no hierarchy of lines on this team is silly.
I think this still leaves the door open for a Krejci for Bobby Ryan swap. The numbers seem to make sense, and while I love the depth the Bruins have up the middle, I think another scoring winger with some size is well worth giving up Krejci.
Ultimately, I just don’t see how Seguin & Bergeron don’t end up as the #1 and #2 Centers, which puts Krejci at #3 and in turn makes him overpaid if the $5.25M is accurate. I could be wrong, but how can the Bruins fit 3 Centers, all at $5+ Mill a year (assuming of course they re-sign Seguin – which I’d think is a certainty) and still fit everyone else under the cap?
Jimbo,
Krejci might not be a number 1 center in the sense of a Crosby, or Toews, but the way the Bruins are built is depth especially at the center position, and Bergeron and Krejci might be the two most important pieces in that depth.
There is no way the Bruins would be able to go out and find a replacement for Krejci at that price, and I don’t see anyone else in the organization coming along with his skill set anytime soon. This deal ensures the Bruins model of winning (building all their lines as equally as possible, not buying one top line) will continue for at least a few more years.
Great day to be a Bruins fan indeed
how does this “squassh” the rumors? a guy can’t be traded after signing an extension? news to me. doesn’t having control over a guy for 3 years make him more attractive in trade? the fact that his no trade doesn’t kick in for a year also doesn’t help squash any rumors.
the fact is that david krejci is NOT a number one center in the nhl. krejci is a nice player but the adulation he receives is unnecessary. you’d think he was a point per game guy the way he’s lauded around here.
you have a surplus of young, capable centers, nothing wrong with moving one for a big piece. keep him fine, trade him fine. i’d lean more toward a trade but if he stays it’s not such a bad thing.
TSN has it for 3 yrs at 15.75
Annd now that I check TSN is see that it is 3 years 15.75 million. Thought for sure he would get the Bergeron deal (5 years, 5 mill per), but Chiarelli sacrificed a few dollars to shorten the length, no big deal.
Still a great day to be Bruins fan, no its time to lock up Tuukka.
Interesting question comes from this though, who are the bruins going to have to move in the future (trade or walk to free agency) to make room for this contract and the ones Tuukka and Seguin are going to have to sign soon? We now know its not Krejci, so Horton? Thomas? one of the D?
SAS is that right? How is that possible? That is way less than the 5.25 mill per year that was reported… As I type I realize there is no way that is possible. That would be a pay cut, why would he do that
RD
Bojanles is right! Get yourself a Rick Middleton or Tyler Seguin jersey and join the hard-working B’s. I’m sure JPT heeded my advice and took down his life-sized Guy Lafleur poster and replace with picture of Patrice Bergeron holding the Cup.
What a birthday gift! Thank you B’s!
Krejci signed for three years and only 10.75 mil according to TSN…that is a steal. I think I’m becoming a fan of that guy for taking less money…
Love this as well. Krejci may have hit a bit of a slow patch this season so far, but he has proven himself in the playoffs a couple of years in a row. He is big when the Bs most need him to be, and no panic to him.
RD – Face it! You’re dying to switch sides. It has to be next to impossible to root for that squad up Nort… Get yourself a #16 Rick Middleton (he could have been a good Hab) jersey and make the leap, brother.
I admire a GM that has the guts to commit to a player during the season.
Montreal dangles their players in limbo until the off season. You can have a career year and not get a phone call from the head office for an extension.
Glad everyone is psyched – I’m a little more reserved as I’m scratching my head and trying to give PC the benefit of the doubt.
Question: Why not wait until after the trade deadline and at least enjoy a little fishin’ to see what you might get back (Parise)?
Love the signing, but too much money shouldn’t be making more than Bergeron and looking at cap geek gonna make it tough in 2 years when seguin lucic marshmont horton kampfer ference caron and thomas are all free agents. unless they plan on letting thomas go and using his 5 mill to help out
Wow! Good news for me on a bad day! Let’s get Rask signed next!
Wow! Well done Chia Pete in locking up the core.
yeah!
Love the signing, but too much money shouldn’t be making more than Bergeron and looking at cap geek gonna make it tough in 2 years when seguin lucic marshmont horton kampfer ference caron and thomas are all free agents. unless they plan on letting thomas go and using his 5 mill to help out
While I like Bobby Ryan as a player, Krej proved last night how valuable he is to this team and to the top line. Happy as hell he’s staying put. This team “may” want to tweek around the edges, but right now there’s no better team in the NHL that can roll 4 lines like the B’s can. Great move,PC.
Love it. I think most know I’m a Krejci fan. This team has three potential first line centers. The depth up the middle is vital in regards to injuries. Most teams have to elevate a third line center when one of the top two go down. The B’s move up a winger shuffle Seguin,Krecji and Bergeron and the band plays on.