NHL Notebook: With David Krejci heading home, who steps in as Bruins’ 2C next season?

Well, so much for blue-line reinforcements being the most pressing need for the 2021-22 Boston Bruins.

Even if the B’s managed to bolster some of their depth on Wednesday with a flurry of free-agent signings, the cold hard truth is that it’s tough to frame an argument in which this current roster is any better than its predecessors now that David Krejci is no longer in the equation.

With just a little over $1 million in cap room (per CapFriendly) and most premier free-agent pivots off the market, it sure seems like we could be looking at a dreaded “2C by committee” scenario playing out once training camp opens in September.

So who’s in the mix? Let’s take a look at the top candidates that will try to step into the void left by Krejci’s departure and attempt to shore up such a crucial cog in Boston’s lineup.

Charlie Coyle

If Boston is looking internally when it comes to finding a successor for Krejci, it sure seems like Coyle is set up to be first in line for top-six reps. 

Now, if we mapped out this scenario back in November 2019 when Boston inked the Weymouth product to a six-year contract extension with an average annual cap hit of $5.25 million (not exactly a payout for a bottom-six pivot), Coyle’s promotion would seem to be falling in line with Boston’s long-term outlook at the center position. 

Granted, it was still going to be quite the ask for Coyle to step into the shoes (or skates?) of Krejci to drive play on the second line, but given what Coyle showcased during Boston’s Cup run in 2019 (nine goals, 16 points in 24 games) and the early months of the following season, it sure seemed like Coyle could run with the opportunity. 

Now, such a lofty assignment offers a lot more risk and uncertainty in wake of a season that Coyle would almost certainly like to put in the rearview mirror. 

Be it the lack of consistent (and effective) linemates on the third line or a series of knee injuries that required offseason surgery to correct an avulsion fracture and a small tear in his patellar tendon, Coyle didn’t look like himself for much of 2021 — scoring just six goals and 16 total points in 51 games. 

Now, Coyle should be in line for a bounce-back campaign after getting a clean bill of health — and slotting him next to Craig Smith and Taylor Hall should give him plenty of weapons to work with if he can get back to his trademark heavy, puck-possession shifts in the O-zone. 

Still, there’s absolutely no guarantee that the instant chemistry that Krejci sparked with Hall and Smith will be replicated with Coyle in the middle — even if Hall did note how much he enjoyed skating with a right-shot center in Krejci (Coyle is also a right shot). 

Last year, Coyle did actually log 223:39 of 5v5 ice time next to Smith — which is a pretty extensive sample size. And during that stretch, Boston only outscored opponents, 7-6. Not ... great. As for any prior reps with Hall, Coyle only logged a whopping … 10:00 of 5v5 ice time next to the star left wing. 

Perhaps it’s better to just wipe the slate clean and not chart much of what was essentially a lost season for Coyle in 2021 when it comes to his potential viability as a second-line center. That might be the route that Boston takes, because if 2021 was not just a dreadful outlier, then this team might be in deep, deep trouble. 

Nick Foligno

Even though a 33-year-old Foligno is probably best suited now as a third-line stalwart on a deep lineup, don’t be surprised if the former Blue Jackets captain gets a few top-six reps entering camp.

At least, that seemed to be part of Boston’s pitch to the veteran forward during free agency — as Foligno noted in an interview with Aaron Portzline of The Athletic that the B’s mapped out a “second-line role until they figure out what Krejci is doing”. 

Well, they now know — and I’d be very, very surprised if the Bruins didn’t have an inkling of Krejci’s intentions before free agency commenced. As such, perhaps the plan always was for Foligno to get some reps at 2C to see how he fares in such a role. But as we mapped out earlier, Foligno’s ceiling as a potential top-six option sure seems to have come and gone, with the forward posting 20 points over 49 games last season. 

Foligno is a bit like Coyle in that, in a perfect scenario, he can be an effective cog in a third-line role. But bumped up to a pivotal top-six spot? Well, there’s a lot more uncertainty in terms of maximizing their value there. 

Foligno can and should be a dependable regular in this B’s lineup in 2021 — but expecting him to help drive a line next to Taylor Hall sure seems to be asking a whole lot out of him. 

Erik Haula 

Haula did have his breakout season in Vegas while sandwiched at center between James Neal and David Perron — scoring 29 goals and 55 points during the 2017-18 campaign. But much like Foligno, Haula sure seems like a better fit on the third line where he can inject some scoring punch (albeit at a more realistic rate than those lofty Vegas numbers) and speed. 

Of course, Haula could hold the fort at 3C if Coyle or Foligno get bumped up to the second line — as he actually posted a team-best 55.1 faceoff percentage last season in Nashville. But a second-line center sure seems to be asking way too much from a player like Haula in this situation. 

Jack Studnicka 

Perhaps the top wild card in terms of in-house candidates is Studnicka, the promising youngster who’s more or less been mired in a no-man’s land of sorts after a very disappointing 2021 season. 

Expectations were very high for Studnicka entering 2021, with the youngster earning reps in the Toronto bubble and showing promise as a potential middle-six replacement at center in 2021-22 if all went well in his first full season of pro hockey. 

Well, it didn’t — as Studnicka was limited to just one goal and three points over 20 games.

Had Krejci returned in 2021-22 and Coyle remained in place at 3C, it sure seemed like Studnicka was a man without a defined lineup spot next season. And even with Krejci gone, Studnicka is still going to have to fight in camp for regular reps with Haula, Foligno and Tomas Nosek added to the mix. 

But the potential is still there for Studnicka, especially if given a chance to earn regular minutes at his natural spot at center — and not in limited reps on a checking-line roll. 

The skill has always been noticeable with Studnicka, but after reportedly adding another 10 pounds of muscle to his frame already this summer, he might be better equipped to handle the big boys up in the NHL. 

It sure seems like a streeeetch that Studnicka would just get thrown into the 2C conversation out of camp barring a WILD step forward in his development at this juncture, but if he carves out a 3C gig in the early portion of the 2021-22 season and produces, he could warrant a look higher up in the lineup if the stars align. 

Studnicka’s ascension as a legit middle-six pivot next season is far from a given — but it would be a massive break for a B’s team in desperate need of good news down the middle this winter. 

Someone outside of Boston's roster?

Of course, we're offering this breakdown just a few days after Krejci's exit — and the dust has still not settled from such a momentous departure and the subsequent end of an area. So even though the prevailing sentiment right now is the doom and gloom associated with internal competition at the 2C spot, we've still got a looooong way to go before we get to training camp — and Boston could look to address that vacancy with talent outside of the organization. 

Again, given both Boston's cap room (or lack thereof) and a barren list of pivots on the free-agent market, it sure seems like a trade would be the best avenue to find a potential Krejci replacement. 

Of course, in the immediate aftermath of Jack Eichel's agents going scorched earth on the Sabres — the visual of the North Chelmsford native in a black-and-gold sweater has manifested itself into the brains of B's fans from Portland to Provincetown. But even if the reported steep asking price for Eichel gets lowered, it just doesn't seem like Buffalo will want to tango with Boston — nor do the B's have the cap space to take on that contract (5 years left at a $10 million annual cap hit) with Charlie McAvoy due for a major pay raise next summer.

But there are plenty of other options that Boston could turn to this summer for the right price. Perhaps Boston kicks the tires on a potential Christian Dvorak swap? It'd make sense, especially given how well the 25-year-old pivot performed in Arizona when Hall was on his line. 

We'll be sure to break down some potential 2C targets outside of the organization in the coming weeks, as the outlook of this entire roster should drastically improve if Boston finds any semblance of consistency, security and production in that top-six spot. 

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Why Boston ‘has a very special place’ in the hearts of Nick Foligno and his family

When it came to charting out the rationale involved with choosing the Bruins in free agency, new B’s forward Nick Foligno reeled off some of the usual spiel that a free-agent pickup declares in their opening presser: Team culture, a contention window, the city, the fans, etc. 

But for Foligno and his family, the appeal of settling down in Boston for a few years and their connection to the city goes far beyond relatively trivial matters like sports. 

Back in 2013, Foligno’s daughter, Milana, underwent life-saving heart surgery at Boston Children’s Hospital just a few weeks after her birth due to a congenital heart defect. In 2018, she underwent another procedure at Boston Children’s to replace an infected valve. These days, Milana — the first of three kids in the Foligno family — is doing well.  

“She’s doing great,” Foligno said on Wednesday. “She’s having a blast up here -- we’re up in Canada at our summer home. She’s on the lake, just a typical seven-year-old having a blast. A big thank you to Boston Children’s and also Nationwide Children’s in Columbus for allowing us to have a healthy daughter.”

Foligno and his family expressed their gratitude to the various medical institutions that took care of Milana back in 2016 — donating $500,000 to both Boston Children’s and Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus for funding that would support research for cardiovascular study. 

Now finally in Boston, the journey has come full circle for Foligno and his family. 

“Boston has a very special place in our heart because of that,” Foligno said. “I think it was, my wife said, serendipitous in a way, coming back to a place that gave us a chance to be a family in the first place. We’re really looking forward to that bond that’s already created because of it.  

“We love the doctors and the people in that hospital, and we’re looking forward to now playing in front of them and having them cheering us on. I think they were secretly cheering me on from afar, but now they have even more of a reason to cheer for me, which is great. Probably even more so for them to see how well Milana’s doing and see her more on a day-to-day basis will be really special. We’re pretty excited about being back in Boston for that reason.”

B’s announce Development Camp roster

The most pressing issues regarding the Bruins might center on Krejci’s departure and that vacancy at 2C, but over the next week the focus will shift to the future in some respect — as Boston is set to welcome 28 youngsters to Warrior Ice Arena as part of the team’s Development Camp.

The annual camp — which was canned last summer in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic — will be held at Boston’s team facility in Brighton from August 2-6 and is expected to be open to the public. 

A few noteworthy names attending the camp include Boston’s top picks in both the 2019 and 2020 NHL Drafts in John Beecher and Mason Lohrei — while four skaters selected by the B’s in the 2021 NHL Draft will also attend in Brett Harrison, Ryan Mast, Andre Gasseau and Ty Gallagher.

Fabian Lysell, the B’s 2021 first-round pick, will not attend camp — as he’s reportedly not been able to receive the COVID-19 vaccine quite yet. 

There are also a number of intriguing camp invites with local ties, including Wilbraham product and former standout Quinnipiac goalie Keith Petruzzelli, BC captain and North Billerica native Marc McLaughlin and Providence forward Parker Ford (Wakefield, R.I.). 

Here is the full Dev Camp roster: 

FORWARDS: Johnny Beecher, Riley Duran, Parker Ford*, Andre Gasseau, Tyler Gratton*, Curtis Hall, Brett Harrison, Matthew Kopperud*, Trevor Kuntar, Reed Lebster*, Marc McLaughlin*, Benjamin Myers*, Quinn Olson, Jake Schmaltz, and Alex-Olivier Voyer*.

DEFENSEMEN: Ty Gallagher, JD Greenway*, Mason Langenbrunner, Mason Lohrei, Brady Lyle, Anton Malmstrom*, Ryan Mast, Dustyn McFaul, Travis Mitchell*, and Brandon Scanlin*.

GOALTENDERS: Kyle Keyser, Zachary Stejskal*, and Keith Petruzzelli*

*Camp invite

As for the schedule ...

Monday, Aug. 2

▪ On-ice session (Group 1), 10:45 a.m.

▪ On-ice session (Group 2), 11:45 a.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 3

▪ On-ice session (Forwards), 10 a.m.

▪ On-ice session (Full group), 11 a.m.

▪ On-ice session (Defenseman), 12:15 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 4

▪ On-ice session (Defenseman), 10 a.m.

▪ On-ice session (Full group), 11 a.m.

▪ On-ice session (Forwards), 12:15 p.m.

▪ Community event at Willie O’Ree Community Street Hockey Rink, (235 Western Ave., Boston), 3 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 5

▪ On-ice session (Forwards), 10 a.m.

▪ On-ice session (Full group), 11 a.m.

▪ On-ice session (Defenseman), 12:15 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 6

▪ On-ice session, 10 a.m.–noon.

Sean Kuraly reflects on time in Boston

His time in Boston may be over, but the lessons that Sean Kuraly learned during his four full seasons in a black-and-gold sweater are going to stick with him for a lifetime. The former B’s fourth-line pivot is heading back home after signing a four-year, $10 million deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets — giving the energetic forward a chance to play with the team he rooted for while growing up in the nearby suburb of Dublin, Ohio. 

And while Kuraly’s run with Boston included four straight trips to the postseason, a Stanley Cup Final run and multiple clutch tallies — the 28-year-old skater said that his top takeaway from his time with the B’s was the lessons he learned from following the likes of Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci and other veteran leaders in the dressing room. 

“I’ve talked to all those guys the last couple of days,” Kuraly said, per Aaron Portzline of The Athletic. “I just said thank you to all of those guys. I’ve learned so much. They’re amazing players and great people. 

“But what I take from them … is their practice habits. They practice so hard every single day. They didn’t care if it was against a kid that was just called up (from the minors) or a guy who’s been here for eight years, they went hard. Every drill is just ‘I win. That’s what I do,’ and this is in practice. You go so hard on the ice and then you get off the ice and have a great time hanging out with each other.

“But what I take from them … is their practice habits. They practice so hard every single day. They didn’t care if it was against a kid that was just called up (from the minors) or a guy who’s been here for eight years, they went hard. Every drill is just ‘I win. That’s what I do,’ and this is in practice. You go so hard on the ice and then you get off the ice and have a great time hanging out with each other.”

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In other ex-Bruins news, both Nick Ritchie and Ondrej Kase — thrust into the free-agent market after Boston opted to not extend qualifying options to them — aren’t going to have to go very far next season, as both skaters are staying within the division after signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs. 

Kase signed a one-year deal with an AAV of $1.25 million on Friday — while Ritchie inked a two-year contract with an AAV of $2.5 million the following morning. Obviously, Kase is a serious wild card given that he only played nine games with Boston over a year and a half due to concussion issues, but it will be interesting to see if Ritchie lands a few welts against his former club the next time that Boston and Toronto meet on the ice.