BHN Daily: Will The Boston Bruins Extend David Krejci?

Should the Boston Bruins bring back center David Krejci next season?

With Krejci playing a reinvigorated and classic Krejci style lately and as this crazy and unique season winds down this and the futures of Tuukka Rask, Jaro Halak, Taylor Hall, and other potential unrestricted and restricted Bruins free agents will come into focus even more. …especially if they all shine in the Stanley Cup playoffs.  

On Tuesday, it was reported here that while there hasn’t really been any traction on a new contract for the Bruins veteran center. However, there is a mutual interest to explore one once the season is over and before Krejci can become an unrestricted free agent on July 28. Of course, the NHL Expansion draft on July 21 and whomever the Boston Bruins decide to protect and expose will play a key role in Krejci’s future in Boston but if they did decide to bring one of the best playmakers in franchise history back what would the likely salary cap hit be for the 35-year-old pivot that can still be a No. 2 center for a Stanley Cup contender?

“He’s very well respected and appreciated around the league,” one NHL management source told Boston Hockey Now when asked about Krejci’s value. “I know our team would be fine at $5-5.5 million for a year or two.” 

That’s obviously a lot better than the $7.2 million salary-cap hit Krejci’s contract this season and the previous five seasons carried. However, the Boston Bruins still have seven other unrestricted free agents to sign, including Tuukka Rask, Jaro Halak, Taylor Hall, and Mike Reilly. In addition to that Sweeney will be tasked with also figuring out what to do with 10 restricted free agents as well, with Brandon Carlo and likely Trent Frederic at the top of the list. So could the Boston Bruins even afford Krejci on a one-year contract with a $5-5.5 million cap hit suggested above?

This could be one of the more interesting offseason stories to follow given how much Krejci has meant to the Boston Bruins franchise.

Now on to the rest of your BHN Daily Links:

In the humble opinion of this puck scribe who has covered Krejci since his first full NHL season back in 2007-08, I find it astonishing how so many Boston Bruins fans and some local media seem to have no issue trading or letting Krejci walk via free agency. Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy talked about why he thinks Krejci is so underappreciated. (Boston Hockey Now)

Speaking of Sweeney, my partner-in-crime, Joe Haggerty – and I agree with him – thinks we all owe some high praise to him for his work at the 2021 NHL Trade Deadline. (Boston Hockey Now) 

In case you haven’t noticed, ‘Tuukka Time’ is back! (Boston Hockey Now)

Speaking of goaltending, the Toronto Maple Leafs are once again regretting trading Rask almost 15 years ago as it continues to be a roller coaster between the pipes for them. (TSN)

One more goaltending note, former Boston College goalie Spencer Knight made his NHL debut with the Florida Panthers Tuesday night and was superb! (Florida Hockey Now)

Can the Vancouver Canucks ride their post-COVID Pause momentum into the Stanley Cup Playoffs? (Sportsnet)

Finally, today marked five years since Prince passed away. I remember being in a McDonald’s parking lot when I heard the news. If you like music, chances are you liked at least one Price song as his music and songwriting transcended so many generations and genres. RIP.