BOSTON — If David Krejci went to unrestricted free agency next summer, he might have landed a richer contract than the six-year, $43.5 million extension he signed with the Boston Bruins last week.
Centers are among the highest-paid players in the NHL — five of the top seven salary-cap hits belong to centers, per Capgeek — and Krejci would have been one of the best UFAs on the market if he played the 2014-15 season without an extension.
But money wasn’t the only factor in Krejci’s decision to re-sign in Boston. He wants to win and believes the Bruins have a good chance to compete for Stanley Cup titles over the next few years.
“I feel we still have lots of years left and we can compete for the Cup in the next few years,” Krejci said Monday in a news conference at TD Garden. “That was one of the reasons why I decided signed now and not wait until I am a free agent and see what’s out there.
“I had a chance to be a free agent for the first time. Depends on the year what I would have, but maybe I could get more, maybe less. Money wasn’t really the issue. I wanted to play where I can win.
“I feel we have a really good team this year and over the next few years as well. Hopefully we can make a run, and that’s why I signed here. I want to win another Cup, this is the team to do it and I’m happy to be here.”
With Krejci locked up, the Bruins have forwards Patrice Bergeron, Milan Lucic, Loui Eriksson, Brad Marchand and Chris Kelly, defensemen Zdeno Chara, Dennis Seidenberg and Kevin Millar, as well as goaltender Tuukka Rask all signed for at least the next two years.
That’s a solid core of players, many of whom already know what it takes to win a championship because they played important roles on the 2011 Cup-winning squad. This core also has helped the B’s make multiple Cup Final appearances since the 2004-05 lockout, something just five NHL teams have accomplished.
Few Bruins players have taken on a more important postseason role than Krejci, who led the 2011 and 2013 postseasons in scoring. His 77 points (29 goals, 48 assists) in 99 career playoff games ranks ninth among active centers.
“(Krejci has) been a real valuable player for us,” Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli said Friday. “You’ve seen his performance during the season, you’ve seen his performances during the playoffs. He’s come up through the ranks for us. I consider him one of the pillars of this franchise.
“So, to get him locked up, I think at a fairly reasonable term and value. I think it speaks a couple of things, one, to him wanting to stay and be part of us continuing to win, and two, obviously our commitment to try to keep this successful core together.”
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