What Should The Bruins Do With David Krejci After Next Season?

One of the staples for the Boston Bruins success over the last decade is David Krejci. With a contract that expires after next season, do the Bruins have enough talent and enough trust in their young centers to let David Krejci walk?

Consistent stability

David Krejci is probably good enough to be a top line center on some other NHL teams. Being behind Patrice Bergeron he has a very important role for the Bruins. A line like the "Perfection line" has to have solid backup if they want to stay consistent. David Krejci has led that line that backs up the perfection line for quite some time now. Having played over 900 career games in a Boston Bruins uniform, the Bruins will have a tough decision when it comes to the summer of 2021. Just after turning 35 when the time comes, with center being arguably the Bruins deepest position, is a David Krejci extension worth the time and money for the Boston Bruins?

Youth and depth for days

Over the last couple of years the Bruins have really addressed the center position. With the recently extended Charlie Coyle on the third line, there is no doubt in my mind or the mind of many others that Coyle could take over the second line center role. With players in Providence like Jack Studnicka and Trent Frederic, as well as their most recent first round draft choice John Beecher, the youth and potential at the center position is alive and well, maybe even more than ever.

Studnicka has shown that he can absolutely be a top six forward at the NHL level. The size, the skill, the scoring ability, all of the tools are there for him to be able to do so. The same goes for John Beecher, although he will probably need a little more time to sharpen up his skills and get used to the professional game. Trent Frederic has proven to be a staple of the bottom six type of guy. Although he could end up as a top six forward someday too, he seems to be a little bit more of a power forward, which usually work best as a bottom six forward.

Direction of the team

A lot of this decision will be based on the direction Sweeney decides to move with the team. Tuukka Rask and Sean Kuraly also have contracts that expire after next season. Brandon Carlo will also become a restricted free agent, so the Bruins could be shelling out quite a bit of money depending on what they decide to do. If they trust the potential in Studnicka, Frederic, and Beecher, they could let David Krejci walk and put that money towards Tuukka and/or Brandon Carlo. If they don't trust the youth perhaps they sign Krejci to a short term deal to give the youth some more time to develop. Either way, the Bruins have some huge decisions to make next season. And make no mistake about it, money will be a huge factor in those decisions.

Credit to bruinsdaily.com for the featured photo.