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Re-signing Bergeron, Krejci keeps Bruins' window open a little longer |
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The Boston Bruins' re-signing of Patrice Bergeron, 37, and David Krejci, 36, reopens the Stanley Cup window and puts a stick in it to hold it open another season.
This keeps the Bruins in the game when it comes to contention.
This franchise will have to make some hard decisions in the near future when Bergeron retires and Krejci truly isn't coming back. Hard times are coming. But not yet. Bergeron and Krejci bought time for the Bruins by agreeing to sign for bargain prices.
Bergeron signed for $2.5 million, plus bonuses that can pay him $2.5 million. Krecji, who said his decision about whether to come back from the Czechia wouldn't be about the money, signed a $1 million contract with a $2 million bonus package.
That's also a below-market contract.
These are easily attained bonuses. The players will earn them unless they suffer calamitous injuries.
But even at $5 million, Bergeron, a 37, is a bargain.
Their acceptance of this kind of payment structure allowed the Bruins to essentially sign them on credit. The Bruins will take the cap hit for those bonuses in 2023-24, instead of this upcoming season.
The Bruins are not one of the favorites to win the Stanley Cup next season, but they now remain a contender. They ranked fourth in goals-against average in the NHL last season and were 15th in offense.
The Bruins also signed Pavel Zacha to a one-year deal for $3.1 million next season and he could give the team another spark next season. He's still only 25 and he scored 32 goals over his past 120 games.
These latest deals will push the Bruins beyond the salary cap limits , but they should be able to counter that with long-term injured reserve (LTIR) players.
The Boston team has multiple players coming off injuries, including top line forward Brad Marchand (hip surgery) and No. 1 defenseman Charlie McAvoy (shoulder). Both of those players will miss the first couple of months of the season. Matt Grzelcyk will also start the season on the LTIR.
Given those injuries, the Bruins' playoff place is not assured. Teams like the Detroit Red Wings and Ottawa Senators improve dramatically.
However, the Bergeron decision to keep playing and Krejci decision to come back puts the Bruins back where they were last season. With their return, the Bruins are still better than the Red Wings and Senators.
And when everyone is healthy, this team is a second-rung contender. Leading contenders like the Colorado Avalanche and Tampa Bay Lightning have lost some depth.
Jeremy Swayman is an improving young goalie. If he has an outstanding season, the Bruins could be better than anticipated. When healthy, this is a team that has enough to make a postseason run.
Bergeron has always been a Bruin and will always be a Bruin. He knew the Bruins needed him this season and he stepped up for them again.
Blogger •HHOF Writer's column on the NHL • 
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