Connect with us

Boston Bruins

Sweeney, Bruins Still Waiting On David Krejci To Address Future

Published

on

NHL Trade

With the start of free agency less than a week away, the Boston Bruins haven’t even gotten even an indication from David Krejci regarding his intentions going forward.

“I have been in touch with David, and I’m going to respect all of his privacy and decisions at this point in time,” Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said on Thursday. “Has not given further indication, as you referenced before he’s got some things he wants to address. Then he’ll let us know. But yes, I have been in regular communication with David, and there’s no timeline to make decisions.”

In his end of the season media Zoom call, David Krejci, who can become an unrestricted free agent on July 28, seemingly had no idea as to whether or not he would return to the Boston Bruins or hit the UFA market, or potentially retire from the NHL and move back to the Czech Republic to play.

“I talked to my parents, and they asked me. I can’t even give them a straight answer,” David Krejci said back on June 12. “I just don’t know right now. I just don’t know. You guys write a lot that I wanted to finish my career in Czech, which has not changed. But when I said that, I was younger. I’m a husband. I’m a dad, I have two kids. They’re getting older. So yes, I still, at one point, would like to finish my career in Czech [but] for different reasons now than when I first said it. I would like my kids to speak my language because my parents don’t speak any English. My kids don’t speak Czech. I would like them to learn the language.

“But again, when that’s going to happen, or if that’s going to happen, we’ll see. I’m going to try to get away from the game a little bit now and think about lots of things. Spend some time with my family and just go from there.”

Krejci’s agent, Robert Hooper has not returned numerous emails from Boston Hockey Now requesting a comment on the situation.

So what if this is it for the 35-year-old Krejci and the only team he’s known over a 15-year career thus far?

When asked if waiting for David Krejci to make a decision has hamstrung him from making moves, Sweeney said no because he believes in the center depth he already has, indicating he wouldn’t try to sign or trade for a new second-line center.

“No. We have guys that can step into roles,” the Bruins GM replied. “Obviously, we’ll address needs and throughout our lineup, certainly, explore options to have. Address it as it comes.”

Sweeney did, however, recognize that losing David Krejci would leave a huge void where only three seasons ago, the Bruins appeared to have one of the best 1-2-3 punches up the middle with Patrice Bergeron, Krejci, and Charlie Coyle.

“We certainly have to acknowledge that it would be a big hole if we had to fill it, but it’d be a real good opportunity for someone if we do go in that direction,” said Sweeney. “We’re going to have to find a way to spread things around if David makes a decision otherwise, but that hasn’t been the indication. We’re hopeful that he’ll come back. We’ll see.”

Copyright ©2023 National Hockey Now and Boston Hockey Now. Not affiliated with the Boston Bruins or the NHL.