David Krejci Gets Emotional When Asked About His Future in The NHL

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Austin Sabourin
June 1, 2023 (5:35 PM)

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The Boston Bruins' "run-it-back" approach, reminiscent of the "Last Dance" mindset, did not go as planned. Their hopes of a deep playoff run and a triumphant celebration through the streets of Boston were shattered in a shocking first-round exit within two weeks. For the core players, this defeat will fuel their offseason workouts, while for others, it might mark their last memory in Boston before seeking opportunities elsewhere. David Krejci, the Bruins' center, expressed the emotional toll of this premature exit and acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding his future with the team.

«I have lost some tough years before, but this one I would put probably right next to 2019,» Krejci, holding court in front of his stall at Warrior Ice Arena on break-up day, admitted. «This one's going to hurt.»

Krejci also didn't hide from the elephant in the room when it comes to the extra �hurt' of this first-round exit.

«Then you have another thing: That could've been my last game,» Krejci acknowledged. «There's just lots of emotions. I don't even like to talk about it, because we have talked about it with lots of guys in the last couple days.

«It gets emotional and [I'm] just not ready right now.»

Krejci made it clear that a return to HC Olomouc in the Czech League was not under consideration. He stated, "No, it's either come back [to the Bruins] or be done. If I come back, it would be [in the] NHL. I closed the door, so I will make a decision soon." Despite injuries that impacted his performance towards the end of the regular season and playoffs, Krejci delivered a strong season, producing 16 goals and 56 points. His decision to return to the team for one final campaign carried multiple factors, including family separation and the Bruins' challenging cap situation.

«No, it's either come back [to the Bruins] or be done,» Krejci said when asked if a return to his home country was among things he was considering this summer. «If I come back, it would be [in the] NHL. I did what I did last year and I'm happy I did that. No regrets. But I closed the door, so I will make a decision soon.

«It would be NHL [and] obviously be the Bruins.»

Although Krejci believed this season was the Bruins' year, their depth and exceptional performances fell short of expectations. The disappointment of the early playoff exit remains fresh, making it necessary for Krejci to take time away from the situation to reflect and make a well-considered decision. Having surpassed the 1,000-game milestone with the Bruins, Krejci's impact on the franchise is undeniable, and his future decision will have a lasting impact on his legacy in Boston.

«I really thought this was the year,» Krejci said. «If you look at the goalies, what a year they've had. We've had good defensemen right, but all of them all together it's like yeah, it was insane. How deep we were at forward. I think everybody stepped in at some point and that's what you need in the playoffs. It just ended the way it did.»

Source: TheSportsHub