David Krejčí hanging up his skates after 16 years with the Boston Bruins
After 16 NHL seasons with the Boston Bruins, Czech-born David Krejčí announced his retirement from the National Hockey League on Monday. Krejčí played all 16 seasons of his professional hockey career with the Boston Bruins, developing a reputation of being a skilled and intuitive playmaker.
David Krejčí who wore the number 46 for a total of 16 seasons with the Boston Bruins in the National Hockey League announced his retirement on Monday evening. The 37-year-old’s departure from professional hockey has been described as a major loss by teammates and hockey commentators alike, as Krejčí had established himself as a ‘silent killer’ for the Bruins. Making his NHL debut in 2007, he racked up a total of 786 points, playing over 1,000 regular season games, and 160 playoff games.
While he may not have been as loud and vocal as other Boston Bruins superstars like Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron, and commentators have noted that Krejčí did not receive as much credit as his other teammates, he was an essential centre-man who played up the middle, a critical part of Boston’s offensive line.
Over the course of his career with Boston, Krejčí saw three Stanley Cup finals, and eventually held the Cup above his head in 2011 when the Bruins beat the Vancouver Canucks in game seven. Krejčí would be an integral part of that playoff run and Stanley Cup victory for the team, as he lead in scoring during that series.
Krejčí temporarily retired from the NHL back in 2021 and spent one season playing in Czechia for his original club Olomuc HC. But, after one season back home, Boston was calling, and Krejčí returned for one more season as a Bruin, playing for the team in the season where they would break the NHL record for most points scored and most wins in a season in the history of the league.
This past season, Boston had what was dubbed the ‘Czech-line’, consisting of three strong Czech players – Pastrnák, Krejči, and Zacha. Together, this trio accounted for 15.6% of points scored for the team.
The future of the Boston Bruins has stirred discussion about what the team will look like and if they will potentially be taking a step back in terms of their strength and domination in the league. The retirement of Krejčí but also 19-season-veteran Patrice Bergeron closes a chapter in the team’s history, and the question of who will step in to fill these two integral spots remains unanswered.
Krejčí will end his career as the 5th amongst Czech players in NHL history for all time points, and he is tied for second in Boston Bruins history for playoff points, racking up a total of 128 points over the course of his career.
In his retirement announcement, Krejčí thanked the city of Boston and Bruins fans for always treating him with respect, citing that he will always be a Bruin.
Although not yet confirmed, rumours are circulating that Krejčí would dress for the Czech national hockey team in major tournaments.
