Jun 24, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron (37) and center David Krejci (46) stretch before game six of the 2013 Stanley Cup Final against the Chicago Blackhawks at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Throughout the preseason, we saw a lot of Bruins wearing the alternate captain ‘A’ on their jersey. The Merlot Men all wore an ‘A’ ( I was really really pleased when Thornton had the ‘A’ on.) Blueliners like Milan Lucic, Dennis Seidenberg, Johnny Boychuk, and Adam McQuaid all wore the ‘A’. Finally the Bruins veteran first line players Milan Lucic and David Krejci were wearing the ‘A’ as the Bruins were figuring out who was going to be the new alternate captain for the Bruins.
Today the Bruins announced the player who was going to represent the Bruins as the second alternate captain. The Bruins decided upon David Krejci. The twenty seven year old Czech Republic native has been very soft spoken as a person, but a force of nature on the ice rink. In his seven years, he went from a player that had a limited physical presence and spoke no English to the center of the Bruins top line. “We all decided on David,” said coach Claude Julien. “It was a unanimous decision. He’s a player that’s matured greatly during his time playing for the Bruins, and he’s one of that accomplished group of young players ready to take on more responsibility.”
With all the questionable decisions that have come from the final selections of the roster, it’s totally affirming to see that the Bruins got such an important one so right. As much as I would have loved to see Shawn Thornton with the A, Krejci is just so ‘right’ for the job.
Krejci now joins captain Zdeno Chara and alternate captains Patrice Bergeron and Chris Kelly as the leadership core for the Black and Gold. With the season starting in less than forty eight hours, it’s an accurate gesture for such a deserving player and an outstanding piece of news for Bruins Nation.