Boston (AP) — The Boston Bruins are currently without David Krejci, one of their top two centres who established records for season-long scoring and wins. The announcement of Krejci’s retirement was expected.
Krejci announced his retirement in a statement on Monday, expressing gratitude to team president Cam Neely and general manager Don Sweeney for allowing him some time to consider his options. It takes place three weeks following the captain and team captain Patrice Bergeron’s retirement decision.
“After 15 full NHL seasons, I have decided to retire from the greatest league in the world,” said Krejci. “Playing with so many great players and being a part of so many winning teams has been an enormous blessing.”
The 37-year-old Krejci returned to North America last October for his final NHL season. He had been back in his native Czechia for a year, giving performances for his friends and family.
Krecji, a gifted centre with two-way ability, played 1,192 games in both the regular and postseason for the Bruins between 2007 and 2023. In 2011, the team won the Stanley Cup. He scored 871 points in that time, helping Boston win three titles and 13 postseason berths.
The Bruins were beaten in the first round of the playoffs by Florida, who went on to win the Eastern Conference this past season, despite being the top team throughout the regular season and winning the Presidents’ Trophy. Charlie Coyle, 31, and Pavel Zacha, 26, are the top two centres after Bergeron and Krejci’s losses.
Sweeney spent the offseason bringing back 2011 Cup winner Milan Lucic, as well as signing defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk and forwards James van Riemsdyk and Morgan Geekie to contracts that complied with the teams’ strict salary cap constraints, in order to get ready for life without Bergeron and Krejci.
