If a report from Czech website Hokej.cz is correct, David Krejci will carry the biggest salary cap hit of any Boston Bruins player during the 2015-16 season. WEEI’s DJ Bean reports that it’s a six-year, $43.5 million deal with Krejci’s management providing similar information to Hokej.cz.
TSN’s Aaron Ward has some additional potential details regarding the extension:
David Krejci and #Bruins (7.25M,7.25M,7.5M,7.5M,7M,7M) No Move in years 1 thru 4 and a limited no trade clause in years 5-6. #TSN
— Aaron Ward (@NHL_AaronWard) September 3, 2014
In the event that this is true - CSNNE.com’s Joe Haggerty points out that neither Krejci nor the Bruins have confirmed it, but also notes that it’s a reasonable possibility - Krejci’s $7.17-$7.25 million cap hit would slightly edge that of Tuukka Rask ($7 million), Zdeno Chara ($6.917 million) and Patrice Bergeron ($6.5 million).
One way or another, the cost won’t be seen right away; the 28-year-old’s current contract carries a $5.25 million cap hit in 2014-15. According to Cap Geek’s numbers, the Bruins will have about $54 million in cap payroll committed to just 11 players in 2014-15, which would translate to about $15 million in cap space if the ceiling remains at $69 million (it probably will be quite a bit higher, but you never know).
However Krejci’s exact contract shakes out, this will also inevitably bring about references to Tyler Seguin’s trade and subsequent breakout year, whether that’s really fair to Krejci or not.
There are plenty of people who are more focused on Krejci making more than Bergeron, Chara and Rask, too.
However, if you merely look outside of comparisons heaped upon the talented center, it’s clear that he’s earned a hefty extension, even if you can quibble about the price. He’s generally been a strong two-way player and topped the playoffs in points in 2013 with 26 in 22 games and 23 points in 25 games during Boston’s championship run in 2011. (Naturally, his last postseason go-around didn’t go quite as well.)
The reality of the cap-era NHL is that plenty of useful players get disparaged because their output doesn’t match sometimes-lofty salaries. Krejci could face quite a burden in that area if these reports are correct, yet he’s done an awful lot for Boston in his career.
