David Krejci knows it’s likely he’ll start the season with Jake DeBrusk on his left, reprising his role as the veteran pivot for the young, hard-skating winger. It’s less certain who will skate on Krejci’s right side, a question the Bruins' braintrust will begin sorting out when training camp starts Sept. 10.
It’s also a question that Krejci appears to have given little thought to this offseason – at least that’s what he indicated when probed on the matter last Friday after the Bruins second captains practice at Warrior Ice Arena.
“This is something you guys talk about a lot in the summer,” Krejci said playfully. “To me, it’s the end of summer, just wake up, go to skate, go to the gym, and don’t worry about things I can’t control.”
There are a few options after veteran Rick Nash, acquired from the Rangers last season at the trade deadline, elected to forego the free agency period and instead focus on his health after a concussion shortened his Bruins stint.
Krejci’s right wing this season could be David Pastrnak, should the Bruins feel inclined to break up the tremendous trio of Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, and Pastrnak. That move could help create a balance throughout the Bruins top-heavy lineup. As good as that Bruins top line was, the rest of the lineup struggled to score in the playoffs, particularly against the Lightning in the second round.
That move would also leave the Bruins to entrust first-line duties to Anders Bjork, or possibly Danton Heinen, two players who produced well at various points last season, but still lack proven experience at the NHL level.
For Krejci, the focus is not so much on who will be on his right side than it is about being healthy and the best version of himself as he enters his 13th NHL season.
“Obviously, (Pastrnak’s) a world-class player and any time you get to play with players like that, it helps your game and makes you feel good about yourself,” Krejci said. “But like I said, there are lots of guys here and my focus is to be 110 percent ready for camp.
“I think it’s just pretty safe to say that I'll prob start with Jake and the right side is obviously open. I haven't talked to the coaches so I don’t know what they're going to do. Once they put guys there then I will try to create chemistry, talk a lot, and stay together as long as we can.
Krejci played 64 games last season, missing chunks of games in October and December because of back and upper-body injuries.
He had 44 points, but his line struggled in the playoffs, as did most of the Bruins offense aside from the first line. As the playing style in the NHL continues to favor faster, sleeker skaters, the emphasis will be on Krejci’s ability to keep up at age 32.
“I feel obviously really good,” Krejci said. “Have lots of good years left and then we’ll see. Every year you go in the season, you don't think about what's going to happen two years from now, you go in to be a better player than you were before. Hockey's about winning, you wanna finish in June with the trophy. That's why we go in the gym early.”
Though he looked liked he lost weight, Krejci would not confirm how many pounds he lost in the offseason.
It’ll be imperative for Bergeron and Krejci, the Bruins rock-solid 1-2 duo at center for more than a decade, to be healthy and available this season.
In addition to the vacancy on the second line, the Bruins have another at third-line center after Riley Nash signed with Columbus. Whether it’s filled by youngsters Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson, Trent Frederic, or Jack Studnicka, or others in the mix, the Bruins will need their top two experienced centers to be available.
While Krejci dealt with his own injuries last season, Bergeron is recovering from groin surgery and will miss part of the preseason, but is expected to be ready for the regular season.
“All you can do for me and Bergy is to show up to camp, be in the best shape you can be and do your thing, lead by example on the ice,” Krejci said. “We know the third spot is kinda open and, for us, we’re going to try to obviously help the person out off ice, on ice, and hopefully lead the right way.”
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- Noah Hanifin and the Flames worked out a six-year, $29.7-million contract last week. Hanifin was traded to Calgary in exchange for Dougie Hamilton, the two centerpieces of a bigger deal that took place during the NHL Draft. That’s a good price for Hanifin, who’s entering his fourth season after spending his first three with Carolina. There was always a lingering hope that the Bruins would make a play for the fifth-overall pick in 2015, in large part because of his hometown roots. Hanifin, who played at Boston College and went to St. Sebastian’s, was part of the Hurricanes roster scrub, but the asking price would’ve been quite high for the Bruins.
- Tyler Seguin generated a bit of a buzz last week when he voiced his displeasure about negotiations for a contract extension with the Dallas Stars. “I thought I’d have some exciting news to talk about at BioSteel Camp, especially this late in the summer,” Seguin told reporters. “It’s been disappointing. But at the end of the day, I obviously have one year left (in Dallas). I’m just going to focus on that." Seguin is due $5.75 million this season, the last year of the six-year, $34.5-million deal he signed with the Bruins just before he was traded to the Stars. Seguin had a career-best 40 goals last season and has 384 points in 387 games with the Stars. If no extension is signed, get ready for a summer of speculation whether Seguin will return to the Bruins next season.
- The Bruins are hosting the inaugural MR8K on Monday, a “run for gratitude that will benefit all first responders.” The Bruins paired up with the Martin Richard Foundation, formed by the parents of the 8-year-old who was killed when two bombs exploded near the Boston Marathon finish line on April 15, 2013. The finish line for the race will be located inside the TD Garden.
- Wade MacLeod, a standout player at Northeastern from 2007-2011, is battling brain cancer and has to undergo his fourth surgery in five years. Friends and family have created a GoFundMe account that has raised close to $80,000 and includes donations from current and former NHL players. Undrafted out of college, MacLeod joined the Springfield Falcons in the AHL for three years. MacLeod suffered a grand mal seizure on the ice playing for Springfield, which led to the discovery of the first tumor. He returned to the ice a year later and has played for a host of teams, most recently in Germany, but the tumors have continued to grow back. Donations can be made here.