But there are still some contract issues to deal with. The Bruins have a number of players entering the final year of their current deals, and general manager Peter Chiarelli could look to lock up some of them before the season rather than try to deal with all those decisions at once next summer.
Chiarelli was proactive last summer in signing both Zdeno Chara and Patrice Bergeron before the start of the season as they were set to enter the final years of their deals, and if he follows suit this year his top priority would no doubt be David Krejci.
Krejci is entering the final year of a three-year deal for $11.25 million signed back in 2009. He tied for the team lead with 62 points in the regular season last year, then led the entire league in playoff scoring with 12-11-23 totals in 25 games.
The Boston Globe earlier this month reported that talks have begun between the Bruins and Krejci on an extension. That, though, came as news to Krejci.
"I still have one year left," Krejci said Friday after the Bruins veterans went through fitness testing on the first day of training camp at the TD Garden. "The first that I heard about it was on the Internet. I don't know who wrote it, but that it's open discussion or something. That's the first time I heard about it. I wasn't thinking about it at all this summer. I'm not going to be talking about it this season, either. I just want to have a good year, help the team get to the playoffs. Once we get to the playoffs I'll leave everything out there to bring the Cup back home again, but it's a long journey. That's where my mind is right now."
Krejci is arguably the most important cog in Boston's offense. His performance in last year's Cup run shows his value, but the Bruins' collapse against Philadelphia after he was sidelined with a broken wrist in the 2010 playoffs illustrates his importance even more clearly.
Considering that value, Krejci would be likely in line for a raise to at least something in the neighborhood of the $5 million cap hit Bergeron now carries with his three-year, $15 million deal.
Krejci, however, has no interest in talking about money. He plans to leave that to his agent, Larry Kelly, while keeping his own focus on hockey.
"Me and my agent, we talk about it and if there's going to be some talk, he's going to keep it for himself and if he thinks there's going to be a good deal for me he'll let me know and I'll decide," Krejci said. "But I told him to leave me alone. I want to be just focused for a good start and what happens, happens."
If an extension doesn't come before the season, Krejci is not worried about facing extra pressure to produce in a contract year.
"I don't play hockey for that," Krejci said. "Obviously, it's nice that you get paid for what you love to do, but that's not why I play hockey. I started playing hockey when I was a kid because I love it, and I still love it. So whatever happens, happens. If they're going to offer me a deal, [Chiarelli] is going to talk to my agent and he's going to let me know and we'll see what happens."
