Former Bruins Thank You, David Krejci: Returning To Czech Republic

[UncleRico]

Lol a lot of finger pointing a specific member of the organization. It’s all of their faults. Neely, Sweeney and Cassidy all have a large piece of this pie.

Neely- too much oversight of Sweeney/Cassidy

Sweeney- poor at drafting and acquiring free agent talent

Bruce- either is a management puppet who does what they say or he’s too stubborn to break up the Marchand-bergy-pasta line because he knows that one line will single handedly take him to the playoffs and give him job security.

They are all at fault. All three of them have bigger faults than they do positive attributes. If they didn’t have the best line in hockey producing 35-40% of the teams points for the last 4 years, at minimum 2/3 of them would be without a job with this organization with the 3rd on their way out

 

[Gordoff]

You can see it that way, sure. I don’t. Cassidy has been here 6 years now, and all of a sudden there is an avalanche of ‘damming’ stuff coming out? Where was it all last year or 2 years ago? But all of a sudden the team is just the right side of average and it isn’t the shitty roster Sweeney has assembled. Oh no, it’s the coach. I guess Cassidy is the whipping boy now. I don’t buy much of it. It’s typical Boston sports media and fans needing to have controversy and shit stirred up.

Two years ago DK etc probably wanted to be good soldiers and kept quiet but the evidence is
now pretty heavy. Yes, six years and the shit is hitting the fan with the defections and now DK confirming what many have said. Coaches have shelf life probably more so than any other non player in sports and
IMO Cassidy's (and year dumb & dumbers) shelf life is past due.

 

[Gordoff]

Well he should have said straight out to Cassidy what he thought .It looks like he wants to take a shot at Cassidy now .I look at it like you made millions and wanted to go home so stop trying to cause trouble for team .He has to know them words would stir things up

Or, maybe he was waiting to hear that Cassidy was fired so he could come back. So, he waited, and then December 15 passed by and he's a bit perturbed that he won't be coming back, at least for this year anyway.

 

[Mainehockey33]

Well he should have said straight out to Cassidy what he thought .It looks like he wants to take a shot at Cassidy now .I look at it like you made millions and wanted to go home so stop trying to cause trouble for team .He has to know them words would stir things up

He did say something to Cassidy when he was a Bruin, did you read the article?

 

[KrejciMVP]

Well he should have said straight out to Cassidy what he thought .It looks like he wants to take a shot at Cassidy now .I look at it like you made millions and wanted to go home so stop trying to cause trouble for team .He has to know them words would stir things up

but hes all the way in czech talking to their media.

 

[PlayMakers]

I never thought Krejci and Pasta jelled. Pasta and Hall are similar and yet Hall gelled with Krejci. To have both, how would that work out?

I always that Krejci-Pasta working was dependent on the LW. If that guy liked to pass, then he and Krejci would 2on1 the crap out of the other team and then hit Pasta when everyone was focused on them. When that guy was a shoot first type (like JDB), it didn't work as well because Krejci never got the puck back. Hall also likes to pass and they were really hard to contain with all the short passes and support plays, Smith just had to be ready to shoot.

We had limited examples to prove/disprove the theory but I always though Cehlarik-Krejci-Pasta was immediately productive and successful. Cehlarik liked to play the give/go game and when he didn't have the puck he'd set screens and occupy a defenseman. He never tried to beat guys 1on1 and always looked to work the puck possession game. Cehlarik-Krejci-Pasta was a missed opportunity IMO.

 

[The National]

30 games into the season, 2 guys requesting trades, 2 former players calling out coaching/organization, underperforming team that doesn’t stick up for their captain.

Everything’s fine.

 

[Aussie Bruin]

I always that Krejci-Pasta working was dependent on the LW. If that guy liked to pass, then he and Krejci would 2on1 the crap out of the other team and then hit Pasta when everyone was focused on them. When that guy was a shoot first type (like JDB), it didn't work as well because Krejci never got the puck back. Hall also likes to pass and they were really hard to contain with all the short passes and support plays, Smith just had to be ready to shoot.

We had limited examples to prove/disprove the theory but I always though Cehlarik-Krejci-Pasta was immediately productive and successful. Cehlarik liked to play the give/go game and when he didn't have the puck he'd set screens and occupy a defenseman. He never tried to beat guys 1on1 and always looked to work the puck possession game. Cehlarik-Krejci-Pasta was a missed opportunity IMO.

100% agree with this. The 'Czechoslovak Line' could absolutely have been a thing, and a very good one at that. Not guaranteed that it would have worked, but it would really have benefited from a proper look, because the prospects for success where there for the reasons you described. Unfortunately the timing was against it - when Cehlarik was in the team the Marchand-Bergeron-Pasta combination was red hot, and there was no Craig Smith-type who was clearly good and experienced enough to slot into 1RW and you'd feel comfortable that he'd keep that line motoring while Pasta dropped down to the 2nd. The only alternatives were guys like Heinen and Bjork, since it was clearly beyond Backes by that point, and while Heinen in particular could do it, it just wasn't convincing enough to stick with for a longer stretch.

So I understand why Cehlarik-Krej-Pasta never got a fair run, but it's a shame that it didn't, because it's something that could still have been benefiting the team now, one way or another.

 

[PlayMakers]

@Aussie Bruin
Yeah, and it sound like Krejci would still be here if he had players he enjoyed playing with.

Honestly, I think that Hall is going through something similar. All speculation on my part but he seemed to almost be depressed at the realization that they were expecting (planning?) on him carrying two lesser line mates and that line all by himself.

He comes alive playing with Pasta and Pasta isn’t even playing any better than Smith or Coyle were, it’s like the excitement of having someone really good on his line is enough to get him more focused and engaged. He handles the puck more, he shoots more, he’s calling for it more...

 

[Aussie Bruin]

30 games into the season, 2 guys requesting trades, 2 former players calling out coaching/organization, underperforming team that doesn’t stick up for their captain.

Everything’s fine.

The Bruins papered over the cracks pretty well last season. Having Hall practically fall into their lap, and to some extent the last gasp revival of Miller, absolutely saved the season and made it look respectable. But the signs of decline and a slip in team culture and identity were very much already there, and now they're becoming more and more apparent with Sweeney's offseason moves and the prospect pool not doing enough, at least so far, to address the issues and fill the holes in the lineup.

And it's often the way that when a team seems to have entered a terminal decline, that that's when multiple negatives will seem to appear all at once. Reality is most of them are circumstantial - it's clear that neither Backes or Krejci have an agenda or any real sense of deep grievance, rather they've been asked certain questions and given pretty honest, straightforward answers, and a guy like Seny would probably have wanted out in his situation even if the team was 1st in the league. But when the team is already under pressure, then all these things coalesce and magnify, and tend to snowball.

I've said here before that the Bruins as an organization look staid, tired and lacking in fresh vision and inspiration, both on and off the ice, and the reasons why it's got to that state have built up over time and are now seeping out and becoming manifest in various ways. Meaningful change and new ideas are needed, it's just a question of how best to achieve and acquire them.

 

[Aussie Bruin]

@Aussie Bruin
Yeah, and it sound like Krejci would still be here if he had players he enjoyed playing with.

Honestly, I think that Hall is going through something similar. All speculation on my part but he seemed to almost be depressed at the realization that they were expecting (planning?) on him carrying two lesser line mates and that line all by himself.

He comes alive playing with Pasta and Pasta isn’t even playing any better than Smith or Coyle were, it’s like the excitement of having someone really good on his line is enough to get him more focused and engaged. He handles the puck more, he shoots more, he’s calling for it more...

My sense with Krejci is he was pretty over the situation with his wingers and he'd already made his mind up to leave before Hall came along. I wouldn't be surprised too if Covid had made him realize that he couldn't just assume that his parents or other family members would be around indefinitely, and may have made it more pressing for him to go back home now rather than in another year or two. Having Taylor, he and Smith then become a really effective line late in the piece just wasn't enough to then make him change his mind. Shame, but Bruins management reap what they sow.

Agree on Hall. Seems like a good guy, but he's not the sort to go out and set the tone himself and drag lesser linemates towards better performance. That's just not who he is as a hockey player. He's only going to thrive in situations where he feels he's got quality to work with and can be part of a combination of equals that has every chance of being successful. Cassidy and Sweeney have to know that, and it's silly that it's taken them this long to try and rectify the problematic situation Hall's found himself in. But they're at least attempting to now. Whether they can take things further with a new 2C remains to be seen.

 

[TD Charlie]

The wounds are still very much real and these quotes from Krejci aren't helping to heal. At all

I'm fine. The coach is fine. The team is gonna be fine. Everything is fine. Yup. It's fine.

 

[Bruin4Life]

You left ,your gone so leave it alone .Thats my feeling on Krecji talking now .Should have spoke up when you were there.

This guy tells his boss to take a hike at every opportunity. If only all of us have balls like you

 

[UncleRico]

I really like Cassidy, but all of this stuff is starting to paint a pretty clear picture.
Debrusk
Senyshyn
Backes
Krecji
Who else?

Bergeron, but that was a leak and not something bergeron said publicly

 

[Mantis]

I really like Cassidy, but all of this stuff is starting to paint a pretty clear picture.
Debrusk
Senyshyn
Backes
Krecji
Who else?

Wasn’t he extremely disliked in Washington?

 

[The National]

Wasn’t he extremely disliked in Washington?

The frustration of losing and the lingering issues between the players and coach came to a head last Thursday in New Jersey, when Cassidy ripped the team after a 3-0 loss and made references to players not using pregnant wives and sick children as an excuse for poor play.

Many of the players have young children or wives about to give birth, while Kolzig has an autistic child and Witt's wife battled a life-threatening illness all of last season. Those remarks angered many players and, coupled with two more ugly defeats, marked the end of Cassidy's tenure. He apologized in a brief meeting with the team Saturday, but the die was cast.

"That was the final straw," one player said. "That [comment] really hit a lot of guys hard. You can't take that one back. Things had been bad for a long time, but that was the worst."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/arch...e-start/7bb8a1bc-26af-4365-ad55-7e2534cf9c5a/

 

[Mantis]

The frustration of losing and the lingering issues between the players and coach came to a head last Thursday in New Jersey, when Cassidy ripped the team after a 3-0 loss and made references to players not using pregnant wives and sick children as an excuse for poor play.

Many of the players have young children or wives about to give birth, while Kolzig has an autistic child and Witt's wife battled a life-threatening illness all of last season. Those remarks angered many players and, coupled with two more ugly defeats, marked the end of Cassidy's tenure. He apologized in a brief meeting with the team Saturday, but the die was cast.

"That was the final straw," one player said. "That [comment] really hit a lot of guys hard. You can't take that one back. Things had been bad for a long time, but that was the worst."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/arch...e-start/7bb8a1bc-26af-4365-ad55-7e2534cf9c5a/

I remember reading something like that, probably on this site years ago, but kinda forgot about it over the years.

 

[Colt.45Orr]

The frustration of losing and the lingering issues between the players and coach came to a head last Thursday in New Jersey, when Cassidy ripped the team after a 3-0 loss and made references to players not using pregnant wives and sick children as an excuse for poor play.

Many of the players have young children or wives about to give birth, while Kolzig has an autistic child and Witt's wife battled a life-threatening illness all of last season. Those remarks angered many players and, coupled with two more ugly defeats, marked the end of Cassidy's tenure. He apologized in a brief meeting with the team Saturday, but the die was cast.

"That was the final straw," one player said. "That [comment] really hit a lot of guys hard. You can't take that one back. Things had been bad for a long time, but that was the worst."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/arch...e-start/7bb8a1bc-26af-4365-ad55-7e2534cf9c5a/

What an absolute asshole.

A tiger doesn't change his stripes that much and those comments were not one-offs.

Krejci is a Bruins-rafter guy, Cassidy can GTFO.

 

[Gordoff]

The wounds are still very much real and these quotes from Krejci aren't helping to heal. At all

I'm fine. The coach is fine. The team is gonna be fine. Everything is fine. Yup. It's fine.

Yeah, he should do what all of the other athletes do and waste our time and say the canned, inane responses to their canned, inane questions. There are too many people who don't want to stick their necks out and simply be real and honest.

 

[UncleRico]

You left ,your gone so leave it alone .Thats my feeling on Krecji talking now .Should have spoke up when you were there.

Sounds like Krejci did speak up because he said Cassidy always told him there was no need to break up the first line. If he’s always telling krejci that, then I’m sure Cassidy and krejci had that conversation on multiple occasions.

For whatever reason that fell of deaf ears with Cassidy. I’m assuming it either came from Neely or Bruce knew Marchand-Bergy-Pasta would get him to the playoffs and the playoffs meant job security because Jacobs was still getting playoff money.

Either way not a good look for Cassidy because he either looks like a puppet or a guy that’s coaching scared.

 

[missingchicklet]

Easy to pile on Cassidy, but good luck expecting one to paint the Mona Lisa when given a set of watercolors. Management shoulders most of the blame for the Krejci situation. Blaming Bruce is a bit comical at this point. Most every year under current management there has been a gaping hole on the second line. The first line many of those years was considered to be the best line in hockey, and was the reason the team was able to get where it did. How far does the team get with Kuhlmam or an ineffective Backes at 1RW and Pasta at 2RW? Impossible to know, but my money is on not as far as they got. Two things seem evident to me: 1) Krejci was frustrated being a first-line talent while being given 3rd line/4th line/AHL talent on one of his wings, and 2) his skill level was underappreciated. He elevated Jake, Smitty, Hall, etc quite clearly. Imagine if he had an actual 2RW (not a has-been) talent. Combined with the Marchy/Bergy/Pasta line the Bs could have done a lot more damage.

So here we are in 2022 STILL with an issue at RW, and no 2C worth much. Pasta is at 2RW with a bottom 6 center. Pasta at 2RW means a bottom 6 RW is now at 1RW. Good luck winning a Cup with that. Bs have enough talent to get the last wildcard spot, but they aren't going to do much beyond that. Krejci had been here long enough to see the writing on the wall with this crew, from the coach on up. It's too bad. Cool thing is the idiots didn't bother replacing Krejci, and still have only have one top 6 RW. Unreal.

 

[TD Charlie]

Yeah, he should do what all of the other athletes do and waste our time and say the canned, inane responses to their canned, inane questions. There are too many people who don't want to stick their necks out and simply be real and honest.

oh i don’t fault him for saying anything

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

@Aussie Bruin
Yeah, and it sound like Krejci would still be here if he had players he enjoyed playing with.

Honestly, I think that Hall is going through something similar. All speculation on my part but he seemed to almost be depressed at the realization that they were expecting (planning?) on him carrying two lesser line mates and that line all by himself.

He comes alive playing with Pasta and Pasta isn’t even playing any better than Smith or Coyle were, it’s like the excitement of having someone really good on his line is enough to get him more focused and engaged. He handles the puck more, he shoots more, he’s calling for it more...

Krejci said he planned to go home after his contract ran out when he signed that contract.

And he did.

 

[Bruin4Life]

Krejci said he planned to go home after his contract ran out when he signed that contract.

And he did.

More of this.
Krejci always mentioned this. Him and pleks always commented about finishing it off in their homeland.

 

[Gordoff]

Sounds like Krejci did speak up because he said Cassidy always told him there was no need to break up the first line. If he’s always telling krejci that, then I’m sure Cassidy and krejci had that conversation on multiple occasions.
Either way not a good look for Cassidy because he either looks like a puppet or a guy that’s coaching scared.

I'd guess it's 50/50