Should Bruins Think About Trading David Krejci?

Why the Bruins would want to trade a top-six forward who has 36 points in 44 games, especially when they’re looking for another top-line winger seems baffling, but Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe suggests the Bruins should consider trading center David Krejci.

Dupont points to inconsistencies in Krejci’s line this season and specifically points to the year left on the 33-year-old’s contract that carries an annual average salary of $7.25 million.

Despite Krejci’s price tag and a 15-team trade list, Dupont still thinks the forward could be one of the Bruins’ most tradeable assets and if the Bruins are looking at something big here this trade season, moving Krejci would also free up salary-cap space.

Furthermore, should the Bruins not use that cap space to trade for a rental or another winger with term, the organization could spend that money to re-sign defenseman Torey Krug, a move that would be tricky now with limited funds.

Related: Dustin Byfuglien Not Likely To Play This Season

A Bruins Team Without Krejci?

With the organization since 2006, it’s hard to envision what a Bruins team without Krejci might look like but Dupont has an answer for that too. He believes Charlie Coyle could take over the second-line center role, and one of Par Lindholm or Jack Studnicka could take over the third-line center position.

Perhaps one of these two could fill in, but GM Don Sweeney would need to remember that Coyle won’t give you what Krejci does and the Bruins would then need to find a top-six winger and a depth forward at this year’s deadline if they wanted to wind up no worse for wears after making a move.

It’s an interesting idea to trade Krejci but it’s hard to see how viable an option it is for a Bruins team that will absolutely want his experience in the playoffs. The Bruins are a Stanley Cup contending team with the right pieces and removing Krejci gives the team less of the right pieces.

Related: Chris Kreider Injured: Does That Affect Trade Potential?