Boston Bruins: Is David Krejci finally finding his game?

David Krejci is one of the players that the Boston Bruins fan-base likes to berate. Sometimes for good reason, other times not so much.

However, of late, with the Boston Bruins pushing David Krejci into top-line action against the Washington Capitals and recently adding Charlie Coyle as one of his wingers when playing on the second-line, he’s found his game somewhat.

He has 6 points in the past 5 games, including two-point nights against Atlantic Division rivals, the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs. In fact, his current scoring pace has him in line for a season of around 60 points; not a bad return from your second-line center if you ask me.

It’s not the effort nor the scoring though that irks Boston Bruins fans, it’s how much he’s paid to do it. When guys like Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak are on track for 100 points or more, it’s easy to see why you’d be frustrated at Krejci offering 60 points for more money.

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What you need to look at though is the much bigger picture. Playing against the Capitals’ top-line, he was the only center to score 50% on his face-offs.

Not only that, his Corsi For (5v5) was an impressive 58.06% (per Natural Stat Trick). You can accredit some of that to playing with Pastrnak and Marchand, but you have to keep up with them and read their game too.

While I don’t think he’s going to be climbing back to last season’s heights with 73 points, especially with such turnover in line mates, I think he is very much under-valued for what he brings to the table.

The Boston Bruins have been lacking in secondary scoring and he’s starting to step up, but doesn’t rate a mention really. Last year, his 73 points were truly remarkable, given that he only had the one regular line mate, that being Jake Debrusk.

Yet, again, he barely rated a mention, unless it was calling out the fact he came up short versus the St. Louis Blues in the Stanley Cup Final and cost too much.

You can’t overlook the fact that in a team that suffered so many injuries last year, David Krejci was pretty much the only constant. He managed to play in all but one of the Boston Bruins’ regular-season games.

This year hasn’t quite gone to plan for him yet, especially missing time in October due to injury, but you can see now that he’s gradually finding some form. He’s on a three-game point streak right now and with the New Jersey Devils up next, you’d expect that can continue at least one more game.

It’s unfair to expect David Krejci to perform up to the value of his contract. Fact is, it’s still a cheap deal, especially when you look at a team like Toronto!

Next. Bruins need more production from the fourth line. dark

At 33 years-old, we should be happy that we have a reliable and steady second-line center that can still produce upwards of 50 points per season. The fact we pay him a little too much, that’s on management; the player is hardly going to turn it down!

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