Had David Krejci concluded his NHL stay with 962 career games, nobody would have thought twice.
There are not many centers who can leave the league at 35, reside in the Czech Extraliga for one season and merge back onto the NHL superhighway one year later. Everything — pace of play, the hostility of the NHL, the 3,000 fewer square feet for offensive creation — conspired against Krejci making a successful North American return.
Yet on Monday at TD Garden, Krejci will play in his 1,000th NHL game as an impact center instead of a 36-year-old tagalong. Only David Pastrnak (29) and Taylor Hall (22) have more five-on-five points than Krejci (19) on the team. The pass-first pivot has drained 11 of his 58 shots (team-leading 19.0 percent shooting percentage).
“He’s incredible at his craft,” said Brad Marchand. “The way he can slow a game down and the things he does, he makes it look so easy.”
Old man, new game, same tricks
In April of 2021, Krejci debuted a man bun in warmups. Twenty-one months later, whether he could repeat the trick is unknown. His hair does not appear to have the same staying power as it did two seasons ago. The sides of his temples are as silver as the commemorative stick presented to every NHLer who makes his 1,000th appearance.
“What?” Marchand cracked when informed of Krejci’s pending milestone. “I thought he hit that like 20 years ago. He’s got to be the oldest guy to ever do it.”
Krejci is no Dale Hawerchuk, who was the youngest player (30 years, 306 days) to hit the 1,000-game mark. Injuries and a season away postponed what was expected to happen earlier.
The salt on Krejci’s head may be amplified by his personality. The native of Sternberk, Czechia, has always acted older than his age. For years, his teammates have good-naturedly considered Krejci the cranky old-timer in the room. As such, they have not hesitated to give him the business, even if Patrice Bergeron has beaten him by one year.
“Not every player has a chance to come back in the league, especially at his age,” Marchand said. “Even to be able to walk at his age is impressive.”
Krejci’s extended shelf life is a reflection of many elements. He loves to compete. He enjoys winning. A mid-career decision to play at a lighter weight has the veteran committed to nutrition, training and recovery.
Above everything else is his processing power.
Krejci has always viewed the game from a unique perspective. Everything around him may be proceeding at ludicrous speed. It does not appear that way to Krejci. His steady pulse allows the center to proceed with caution and use his change of pace to his advantage.
“I think I have him in spots where I think I can get the puck,” Marchand said of going against Krejci in practice. “I’ve got him cornered. Then he’s just by me or he makes a play through me. He’s so gifted. He always comes up big at big times. On our playoff runs, he’s always our top scorer. He just comes up with huge goals at the opportune moment. That’s part of his demeanor and character. He’s just so levelheaded that regardless of the situation — I don’t know if he feels the pressure or not — but he’s able to thrive and come through in the big moments.”
Krejci has returned to a league that is even faster than when he left. It hasn’t mattered. His anticipation gives him time that perhaps his body does not.
Consider the deciding play he made in the Bruins’ 4-3 win over the Maple Leafs on Saturday. With the score tied late in regulation, John Tavares started a standard breakout with an outlet pass to William Nylander. Krejci saw it coming. With a flash of his stick, Krejci busted up the pass to start the counterattack. Moments later, Matt Grzelcyk scored the winner.
“There’s always room for players who slow it down and can make plays east-west at a high level like he can,” coach Jim Montgomery said. “Look at (Mitch) Marner. Marner can skate, yes. But he can slow it down. He plays more like Krech than he does the modern game of a (Connor) McDavid or a (Nathan) MacKinnon.”
The Krejci that returned is the same as the one who left. In three months’ time, the Bruins expect that to continue.
Playoff Krech
Krejci has 124 points in 156 postseason games, third-most in team history behind Ray Bourque (161) and Bergeron (127). Krejci’s 0.79 points-per-game average in the playoffs is not that much higher than his 0.76 regular-season rate.
Yet his teammates all call him “Playoff Krech” without hesitation. He has never had trouble aligning his game to the heat of the situation.
“In those big moments, you look around you can feel the pressure on the bench and in the stands and in the coaches and players. You look at him, and he’s just kind of hanging out,” said Marchand. “It’s almost like he doesn’t feel any emotion whatsoever, good or bad. It definitely gives you a calming sense in those moments, especially when you see him take over. You feed off that. It’s been a lot of fun to watch.”
Most recently, because of Jake DeBrusk’s injury, Krejci has had to part with Pastrnak, his regular right wing. Craig Smith took most of the shifts on Krejci’s right flank against the Leafs.
That may not be the case in the playoffs. DeBrusk will return in February. Assuming good health all around, Pastrnak will be back with Krejci and either Hall or Pavel Zacha on the left side. This gives the Bruins optimal attacking balance.
Half of a regular season has given Montgomery a chance to familiarize himself with Krejci. By late April, Montgomery will learn what Krejci brings in the playoffs.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with him, just because he’s so cerebral,” Montgomery said. “I love how competitive he is. There’s a burning fire inside him to be elite. Then you couple that with the creativity. That’s why he’s such a special player.”
(Photo: Rich Graessle / NHLI via Getty Images)
.