Breaking News: David Krejci is officially retiring
Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci were tied together as the Bruins’ top two centers for more than a decade. Now, fittingly, they have announced their retirements just a few weeks apart.
After Bergeron announced his retirement last month, Krejci followed suit on Monday, announcing his decision in a message shared by the Bruins, the team with which he spent his entire NHL career, one that spanned 15 full seasons.
Krejci, who returned to the Bruins last season after spending a year away playing in his home country of Czechia, finishes his career ranked fifth in franchise history in games played (1,032), fifth in assists (555) and ninth in points (786). He is tied with Bergeron and Brad Marchand for second in franchise history in playoff scoring with 128 postseason points. Only Ray Bourque (161) has more than the longtime trio of teammates.
Krejci led the NHL in playoff goals and points during the Bruins’ 2011 Stanley Cup run, posting 12 goals and 11 assists for 23 points in 25 games. He again led the league in postseason scoring in 2013, recording 26 points (9 goals, 17 assists) in 22 games as Boston ultimately fell to the Chicago Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup Final. His clutch postseason performances earned him the nickname “Playoff Krech.”
Krejci and Bergeron gave the Bruins tremendous organizational stability as the team’s top two centers for well over a decade, basically since Marc Savard’s career was cut short by Matt Cooke and the lingering concussion issues that followed. Krejci’s line with Milan Lucic and Nathan Horton was the Bruins’ top line during their 2011 run and co-top line in 2013, before Krejci eventually settled into a second-line role as Bergeron, Marchand and eventually David Pastrnak rose to the top of the depth chart.
Now, Krejci and Bergeron are both gone, and the Bruins must find their new first- and second-line centers. As things stand now, that would be Pavel Zacha and Charlie Coyle. It remains to be seen if general manager Don Sweeney will try to trade for another center before the start of the season, although it seems unlikely at this point in the offseason. He may have more options in-season before the trade deadline or next summer when the Bruins will have more cap space to work with.
Here is Krejci’s retirement announcement in full:
After 15 full NHL seasons I have decided to retire from the best league in the world.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Cam Neely and Don Sweeney for allowing me to take my time with my decision and announcement.
I also want to thank the Jacobs family and the entire Bruins organization for believing in me over and over again and giving me the opportunity to be part of this amazing family for so many years.
When I was drafted in 2004, I had no idea that I would be working with such incredible and driven people who would lead us to 3 Stanley Cup Finals, and winning the ultimate goal in 2011.
I have made so many great friendships throughout the organization. You have always been there for me whenever I needed something and I will always be here for you.
To my teammates - I have been very lucky to be on so many good teams and play with so many great players. You always start as coworkers but end as friends, and I'm so proud to have met some of my closest friends over the years. That's the best part about our sport.
Thank you to all the coaching staffs I was lucky to have in my career - I was coached by some of the best coaches in the world.
Thank you to my agents for all you have done for me since my teenage years.
To my mom and dad - Thank you for letting me chase my dream of playing in the NHL. Being a father, I now realize how hard it had to be to send your kid to another continent with no English. Without your support, my NHL dream would still be a dream and not reality.
To my brother Zdenek - We dreamt the same thing as kids but only one of us was fortunate to experience it. You never complained and you were never jealous of me - you were the exact opposite of that. I don't think you understand how much influence you have had on my career, and for that I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
To my wife Naomi and my kids Elina and Everett - As I'm writing this and hearing you and the kids playing and being really loud it makes me happy that I get to experience it in real life and not over the phone when we are on trips far away. You understood all the hard work I had to put in and all the hours in the summer to get ready for a new season. You always listened when I was in my lows and gave me strength and the right advice. Now it's time for me to try to be the best husband and father I can be and support you in our next chapter in life.
I want to thank the media - I really appreciate all of you even if I don't like speaking too much … I will miss you.
And to Bruins fans and the city of Boston - THANK YOU. You have always treated me with nothing but respect and I will be forever grateful. I will miss playing in front of you, but I am and always will be a Bruin.
DK46