Eager Krejci shrugs off trade rumors
David Krejci was back on the ice Friday with his Bruins teammates for the first time since heading over to his native Czech Republic to play for HC Pardubice during the lockout, and the 26-year-old pivot said he was aware of the persistent rumors about a possible trade to Phoenix or Anaheim. But he made it clear, as he did last season when the rumors started, that he wants to remain a Bruin.
“I’ve seen it and I have time to go on the Internet, so I know what’s going on,” Krejci said. “I went through lots of things and saw my name there, but there’s nothing I can control. I am happy here, and I hope I haven’t given them any reasons to trade me. So I can’t control it, and I just want to go out there and play my best.”
Krejci scored a career-high 23 goals last season and equaled his 2010-11 total of 62 points (his career high in points came in 2008-09, when he had 73). But he also had long stretches of futility and then struggled with just three points in seven games in the Bruins’ first-round loss to Washington. It was a far cry from his 23 points in 25 games in the Bruins’ 2011 Stanley Cup run, and with his struggles came numerous trade rumors. Given the team’s depth at center and Krejci’s cap-friendly contract (three years left at $5.2 million), media and fans pegged Krejci as expendable if the Bruins need to shed salary from their $68.8 million cap hit against the $70 million NHL salary cap this season, or even more when the cap goes down next season with the new CBA.
Krejci, however, is determined to quiet those rumors and move on from the frustration of last spring.
http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/bruins/post/_/id/10457/eager-krejci-shrugs-off-trade-rumors