Apr 12, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins center
David Krejci(46) celebrates with defenseman
Dougie Hamilton(27) after scoring a goal against the Buffalo Sabres during the first period at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Early this afternoon, a Czech Republic report came out the Boston Bruins and the David Krejci had come to terms on a long term contract extension. There were doubts to its authenticity, and for good reason. We knew while this season was going to be tight on the salary cap, and next year was going to be even tighter. Would the Bruins make the push to secure the twenty eight year old forward? If they were, would they be able to afford the price he was worth?
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Earlier this evening, it turned out that the Czech report was correct, and that both sides had reached an agreement. Krejci signed a six year, $43.5 million dollar contract to stay with the Bruins until the end of the 2020-2021 season. The information was confirmed by WEEI, and here is all the important information (per WEEI).
Krejci, 28, will carry a $7.25 million cap hit throughout the duration of the deal, which begins in the 2015-16 season. His salary breakdown will be $7.25 million for the first two years of the deal, $7.5 million for the next two and $7 million for the final two. The contract will make Krejci the highest-paid player on the team cap-figure-wise when the pact begins in the 2015-16 season. Sitting behind him are Tuukka Rask ($7 million cap hit), Zdeno Chara ($6.916 million) and Patrice Bergeron ($6.5 million).
The rest of the contract is pretty straight forward. Krejci’s contract includes a no-move clause during the first four seasons. It also has a no-trade clause in the last two years. It guarantees that there will still be a major part of the 2011 Stanley Cup core on the squad.
Puck Prose
This contract will make him the highest paid member of the Bruins organization starting in 2015-16. Overall, the contract puts him in the top ten for centers in the NHL. There is no doubt he has earned it. In his last five seasons for Boston, the lowest point total Krejci has put up for the Black and Gold is fifty two. It also means that the Bruins will have two of the finest centers in the world watching the top two lines.
This is exciting news for all Bruins fans. It means this year’s Bruins team will be dangerous, and profoundly motivated (with several players looking to earn a huge check in 2015-16) to win the Cup this season.