When Boston Bruins center David Krejci officially announced his retirement yesterday, he only confirmed his retirement from the NHL – leaving the door open for a potential return to European or international play. Speaking with reporters, including Patrick Donnelly of the Boston Sports Journal Tuesday, Krejci said that was intentional, and he is indeed considering playing in the Czech league next season or, if nothing else, suiting up for his country at the 2024 World Championships. Krejci said the injury he was playing through during the team’s first-round loss to the Florida Panthers would have required surgery to play for Boston in 2023-24, and said he “can’t take the whole season” anymore.
That makes a return to the World Championship makes sense, given he won’t be playing anywhere (if he does return) until the calendar flips to 2024. Krejci’s done quite well for Czechia at the Worlds, even recently – he’s combined for 18 points in 15 games during his last two appearances at the tournament in 2018 and 2022. He last suited up in Czechia for Extraliga club HC Olomouc in 2021-22, leading the team in scoring with 20 goals, 26 assists and 46 points in 51 games. Olomouc has finished under .500 for three consecutive seasons, and their 2023-24 roster lacks any notable names with NHL experience. Even at Krejci’s age, he’d be a large boost to Olomouc’s chances of avoiding relegation next season.
Some other notes from around the Atlantic Division:
- 2021 Ottawa Senators second-round pick Ben Roger isn’t turning pro after completing his junior career last season, instead opting to join the Canadian university circuit with Saint Mary’s. Ottawa no longer holds the 20-year-old defenseman’s NHL rights after they opted not to issue him an entry-level contract before June 15. Standing at 6-foot-4 and 201 pounds, the Roger selection was always a bit of a gamble given his lack of offensive upside and playing experience at the time of the draft. He lost the entire 2020-21 campaign due to COVID regulations, meaning he lost out on a crucial year of development. He completed his OHL career with 140 games split between the London Knights and Kingston Frontenacs, recording five goals, 27 assists, 32 points, and a -4 rating.
- Also joining Saint Mary’s is Tampa Bay Lightning 2020 seventh-round selection Declan McDonnell, who also no longer has a rights agreement with an NHL team due to the same circumstances as Roger. The 21-year-old winger scored 21 goals and 21 assists for 42 points in 63 games with the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers in his draft year but saw his production zigzag over the following campaigns. Last season, he recorded just 13 goals in 63 games for the Barrie Colts to finish off his junior career.
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