Boston Bruins Should Consider Trading David Krejci When The Time Is Right
What should the Boston Bruins do with center David Krejci? That is the question that I have asked myself every day since the team signed center David Backes on July 1. There is no easy answer to this question, as the 30-year-old Czech center has been a member of the Bruins for the last ten seasons and is part of the “core”.
The questions with Krejci arose with the center undergoing two hip surgeries in as many years. Most recently, Krejci’s doctor told him to take it easy and sit out of next month’s World Cup of hockey.
"According to [my doctor]… I could play another five, six, seven seasons,” said Krejci, who underwent hip surgery in May. “He advises me not to hurry to return and risk unnecessary problems for next season."
The question many Bruins fans are asking themselves right about now revolves around whether or not Krejci ever be the same player again; I like to think that him being the same is unlikely. The likelihood of him coming back and making a successful return is good….but him being the same player is a long shot. In conversations with fans, some have told me that trading Krejci is the best course of action for the B’s. To be fair. however, his trade value is as low as it will ever be coming off two hip surgeries and still in recovery from the most recent one.
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Given his current trade value, it is unlikely that he could net the Bruins a very significant return – making trading him now pointless for the Bs. On top of that, David Krejci’s current contract that runs through the 2020-2021 season features a no-movement clause through 2019 with a no trade clause in the 2019-2020 season. The no movement clause is typical of a standard NHL contract and can be waived only by Krejci, so in theory, if he is traded it would have to be to a destination that he agrees to.
Boston Bruins Have Depth To Trade David Krejci
If Krejci did decide to waive his no-movement clause for a trade, it would be in the Bruins best interest to wait until he plays in the regular season to show that he can still play hockey at a high level and build his trade value. At which time I would move him for a true top-four defenseman like Kevin Shattenkirk.
Moving Krejci is an option for the team with Backes now on the roster in addition to Patrice Bergeron and Ryan Spooner. Additionally the Bruins have an array of center prospects at their disposal that include Noel Acciari, Danton Heinen, Austin Czarnik, along with Frank Vatrano who is a centerman typically but has played the wing when with the Bruins.
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Moving David Krejci is not easy as there are a lot of variables stacked against the idea of trading him. That doesn’t mean the Bruins front office shouldn’t consider trading him away for the right defensive piece, though. Ultimately I don’t think the team will trade him, considering their pitch to Backes included playing with Krejci. The Bruins will hope and pray that Krejci comes back to top form and that their young defensive prospects develop quickly and effectively to help the team out sooner rather than later.