Damn these character limitations on titles....

But a big hooray for the fantastic Bruins news this afternoon! The club has announced the re-signing of center David Krejci to a 3-yr deal. Here is the official press release:

*BOSTON BRUINS PRESS RELEASE*

BOSTON BRUINS SIGN FORWARD DAVID KREJCI TO A MULTI-YEAR EXTENSION

BOSTON, MA - Boston Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli announced today that the club has signed forward David Krejci to a multi-year contract extension. Per club policy, terms of the deal will not be disclosed. Chiarelli and Krejci will be available to the media via conference call on Wednesday, June 3. Those call-in details will be released the morning of June 3.

Krejci established a career high in games played, goals, assists and points this season with 22-51=73 totals in 82 games. His 51 assists ranked him second on the team behind Marc Savard, and he led the NHL with a plus/minus rating of +36. In 2009, Krejci also received the Bruins Seventh Player Award, given to the player who performs above and beyond expectations.

The 23-year-old native of Sternberk, Czech Republic was originally drafted by the Bruins in the second round (63rd overall) in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut with the Bruins on January 30, 2007 against the Buffalo Sabres.

In his three-year NHL career, Krejci has recorded 28-72=100 totals in 144 regular season games. He appeared in all 11 playoff games for the Bruins this season contributing two goals and six assists.

The terms of the deal are as follows:

2009-10: $3.50 million
2010-11: $3.75 million
2011-12: $4.00 million

Sheer brilliance from Peter Chiarelli, locking up the blossoming star at a mere $3.75m cap hit. By inking Krejci now, the Bruins avoid the hairy situation of potentially having to match a mammoth offer sheet, had #46 become an RFA on July 1st. Undoubtedly there was a strong chance of that happening.

The 23-year-old finished 33rd overall in the league in scoring (73 pts), and his 51 assists placed him T-14th in the NHL. Among strictly centers, Krejci finished 15th in points and T-10th in assists. What makes his breakout campaign even more remarkable, when compared to his peers, is Krejci's limited time on ice. He averaged just 16:51 per game, behind top line pivot Marc Savard, the lowest total among the top 30 listed centers in scoring.

To put that in perspective a bit more, consider this: Krejci finished just two points behind Eric Staal (75 pts), while averaging 4:11 less ice time/game. Do the math out (*opens calculator program*) and you come up with.....

Krejci: 1381 minutes on ice in 2008-09
Staal: 1725 minutes on ice in 2008-09

If Krejci stuck with 16:51/game, he would have to play 20 more games during the year to equal Staal's 1725 minutes on ice.

Were Krejci able to sustain the same production level while logging Staal-like minutes, he would have been on pace for 91 points this past year.

Were it not for Evgeni Malkin, one could make a serious case for Krejci being the best #2 center in the entire National Hockey League. Everyone in the Hub of Hockey must be thrilled that the Bruins have guaranteed themselves three more years of his services, at less than $4mil per year. Especially a certain blogger who invested a good chunk of change in a new B's jersey this past winter, confidently sporting the number 46, while keeping his fingers crossed that the dynamic, all-around center would remain in town for years to come.

So, one "special K" down, and one to go. What will Chiarelli now do with Phil Kessel?

And one last bit of news for all you hockey fans....

NOMINEES FOR MARK MESSIER LEADERSHIP AWARD ANNOUNCED

Bruins' captain Zdeno Chara has been named as one of the three finalists, alongside Sidney Crosby and Jarome Iginla, for the Mark Messier Leadership Award. The trio of captains have just one judge determining who wins the award: the Messiah himself.

Messier will handpick the winner based on who deems best at leading by example on the ice, motivating teammates, and contributing to the community and charitable causes.

Here is the official press release with some great background info about the three nominees' off-ice endeavors:

Mark Messier solicits suggestions from club and League personnel and
NHL fans in compiling a list of potential candidates. However, the
selection of the three finalists and the ultimate winner is Messier’s
alone.

Since Chara was named captain of the Bruins before the 2006-07 season,
the Black & Gold have gone from missing the playoffs in his first year,
to winning 41 games and qualifying for the 2008 postseason in 2007-2008,
to capturing the best regular season record in the Eastern Conference by
going 53-19-10 this past season. He has been named a finalist for the
Norris Trophy as the league’s top defenseman for the second straight
year and his goal totals in his three seasons with the Bruins have gone
from 11 to 17 to 19.

In addition to his on-ice achievements, Chara has been extremely active
off the ice as well. Last offseason, he visited Tanzania and climbed Mt.
Kilimanjaro to focus attention on Right to Play, the international
charitable organization that uses sport and play to enhance child
development in areas of disadvantage. Chara also raised $24,000 for
Right to Play by winning the Hardest Shot competition at 2009 NHL
All-Star Weekend after getting his competitors, the competitors’
respective NHL clubs, the NHL and the NHLPA to contribute to a pot to go
to the victor’s charity of choice. Chara won the competition with a
record-setting 105.4 MPH blast.

The winner will be announced Thursday, June 18, during the 2009 NHL
Awards that will be broadcast live from the Pearl Concert Theater inside
the Palms Hotel Las Vegas on VERSUS in the United States and on CBC in
Canada.

Messier, a six-time Stanley Cup champion and 16-time NHL ® All-Star in
his 25 NHL seasons, is widely viewed as one of the greatest sports
leaders of all time. Among his numerous hockey and humanitarian honors,
the naming of the Mark Messier Skyway at Hackensack University Medical
Center in New Jersey for his 15 years of dedication and commitment to
help raise millions of dollars to benefit children with cancer and other
serious blood disorders is one of the most special.

Following are the other finalists for the Mark Messier NHL Leadership
Award, presented by Bridgestone in alphabetical order:

Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
Though not yet 22 years old, Sidney Crosby already has established
himself as one of the NHL’s most respected on-ice leaders as well as a
dedicated contributor to his community. On the ice, Crosby’s legend
preceded him to the NHL as he was designated hockey’s next
transcendent player at an early age. He has lived up to all the hype,
winning both the League’s MVP award (Hart Trophy) and scoring title
(Ross Trophy) in his second season (2006-07), becoming the youngest
player in NHL history to reach the 100- and 200-points plateaus and
being named the youngest team captain in NHL history on May 31, 2007.
Crosby has received the most votes in fan balloting for all three NHL
All-Star Games during his career. And he has led the Penguins, who
missed the playoffs the three seasons prior to his debut, to three
straight postseason appearances and berths in the 2008 and 2009 Stanley
Cup Finals. Crosby hosts a suite for underprivileged children at every
Penguins home game in conjunction with the Make a Wish Foundation. He
funds and serves as an on-ice instructor for the Penguins’ Learn to
Play Program that introduces the game to youngsters and, with support
from Reebok, outfits them from head to toe.

Jarome Iginla, Calgary Flames
Growing up in Edmonton idolizing Messier, Iginla has spent his 12
seasons in the NHL following in the Hall of Famer’s leadership
footsteps. Like Messier, Iginla plays with a combination of superior
skill and fierce toughness. Like Messier, he leads his team both with
motivational words and fearless deeds. Iginla has led the NHL in
goal-scoring twice, won the Art Ross Trophy in 2002 and scored a
playoffs-leading 13 goals while driving the Flames to Game 7 of the 2007
Stanley Cup Final. A five-time NHL All-Star and two-time Canadian
Olympian, Iginla is a pillar of the Calgary community. Since 2000, he
has been an ambassador for KidSport Calgary, which purchases equipment
and pays registration fees for disadvantaged families, and donates
$2,000 for every goal he scores. He supports the Juvenile Diabetes and
Doctors Without Borders foundations and is a member of the Garth Brooks
Teammates for Kids Foundation. Iginla is generous and tireless in
donating his money and time to a variety of other causes, including
literacy programs, hockey diversity initiatives and youth hockey
programs. He was awarded the 2004 NHL Foundation Award for community
service and the 2004 King Clancy Memorial Trophy for his humanitarian
contributions.

Previous winners of the Mark Messier Leadership Award
2006-07 - Chris Chelios, Detroit Red Wings
2007-08 - Mats Sundin, Toronto Maple Leafs

When I think of the "C", no one jumps out at me, as someone who defines that role, quicker than Jarome Iginla. But Messier certainly can't go wrong with selecting any of the three great captains.

Who do you think should win? What do you think of the Krejci deal? What should we expect to happen with Phil Kessel?

JC

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