Kalman: David Krejci Comeback Only Happens If His Injury Doesn't Kill Bruins
BOSTON (CBS) -- Bruins center David Krejci had already missed 20 games this season when he hit St. Louis Blues forward Alexander Steen last Friday.
Krejci limped off and didn't play against the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday. It was revealed Monday he'd be out at least the next four to six weeks with a tear in his knee. The injury could double his total games missed for the season.
Still, Krejci's trying to stay in the right frame of mind.
"It's been a tough season with all the injuries and stuff, but at this point you've got to stay positive," he said after the Bruins' morning skate at TD Garden on Tuesday before a game with the Vancouver Canucks. "There's a saying, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right? I've got to stay positive and work my way back and try to be a better player than I was."
Krejci's prior injury, which was undisclosed but was either a groin or hip or something in the vicinity, didn't come with a timetable for a return. The Bruins classified him as day-to-day and he even twice returned to play one game before going back on the shelf. This time around he has the certainty of a projected return date. But there's still a bit of uncertainty looming. Four to six weeks from the date of his injury (and remember, it took Zdeno Chara seven weeks to return to the lineup after he was projected to be out four to six) would bring Krejci and the Bruins to the end of the regular season. If the Bruins, who woke up Tuesday three points ahead of Florida for the second Eastern Conference wild card spot, don't play well enough to make the playoffs, there won't be a Krejci comeback. The Bruins were 9-9-3 without Krejci prior to facing Vancouver.
Krejci's not considering the idea that his season might be over. His positivity was boosted by the Bruins' 6-2 rout of Chicago.
"We've been through a lot — not just me individually, but every single guy as a team and coaching staff," Krejci said. "I thought they responded really well against Chicago, and a big one tonight again. We're battling for the last spot and every single game is huge. I believe in this group and whoever's playing. We've got to get it done."
Krejci has 26 points in 38 games this season. He had just one point (a goal) in his last seven games through Friday night. But he's proven himself as an excellent crunch-time performer with his playoff performances in 2011 and 2013. For all intents and purposes, the next six weeks will be like the playoffs for the Bruins as they try to play their way into the tournament.
For the time being, it looks like center Ryan Spooner will be asked to pick up most of the slack for Krejci. Spooner played well and had an assist in Chicago. The Bruins will also have to lean on center Carl Soderberg, who had no goals in his past 13 games and no points in the past seven before facing Vancouver.
They're also going to hope Milan Lucic, who hasn't even been himself consistently when longtime linemate Krejci was in the lineup, can find some semblance of his game. Playing with Spooner and David Pastrnak might provide the youthful spark the bulky Lucic needs to get his rear in gear. Those three connected on a Lucic goal against the Blackhawks.
General manager Peter Chiarelli could also acquire help from elsewhere. Krejci and defenseman Kevan Miller's injury might provide more room under the salary cap limit. Arizona's Antoine Vermette is among the coveted centers expected to be available before the March 2 trade deadline. Vermette is a solid two-way player who's been stuck on terrible Coyotes teams the past couple seasons. He also has something else important to Chiarelli and the Bruins: experience playing for the Ottawa Senators.
Regardless of where the help is coming from, the Bruins are still going to need Krejci. After all, he's an alternate captain. So he should be expected to do whatever he can to help even when he's out of the lineup.
"You're always around the guys in the dressing room and you don't want to be the messenger of negativity. You just want to be around and be with the guys," he said. "Obviously, you can't help them on the ice, but you're around them and you spend time with them every morning before practice and after. That's all I can do."
Like he said, this injury won't kill Krejci. But it could kill the Bruins' playoff hopes unless everyone imitates Krejci's positive attitude.
"I think it's, for myself and everyone, it's to have a good team attitude and what we showed in that game against Chicago is if we compete the right way and we play hard, and stick to the system, we can have success," Lucic said. "Obviously it's easy to get down and frustrated again and losing another player, and obviously a key player like Krech. But at the end of the day, there's lots to look forward to with 23 games left, so there's lots to look forward to with this final push to make the playoffs. We know how important that is, so we can't dwell on this injury too much. Make sure we're in the right frame of mind to compete the right way and play the right way to have success."
Matt Kalman covers the Bruins for CBSBoston.com and also contributes to NHL.com and several other media outlets. Follow him on Twitter @TheBruinsBlog.