Why David Krejci And David Pastrnak Need To Be Reunited This Season
With training camp just around the corner it feels like all signs are pointing towards David Krejci and David Pastrnak being reunited on a line for the Boston Bruins. They’ll most likely be joined by Jake DeBrusk to complete what will be considered the Bruins second line. Pastrnak spent most of last season on a line with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand, which formed what was probably the best and most dangerous line in the NHL. The issue with those three playing together was that they made up for a large part of the Bruins offense and when they weren’t on the ice the offense sometimes flatlined.
If you look back through the years, you’ll see that anybody who plays with Bergeron and Marchand easily finds success. The duo gels so well that they can easily form terrific chemistry with anybody that gets placed on their line. Adding Pastrnak to that line was great for the Bruins, but he’s a guy that can easily form chemistry with just about anybody. That’s why it’ll be important to put him with his fellow countryman to help spread out the offense in Boston.
A few fans have voiced their frustrations with Krejci recently due to his lack of production. If you look just at his numbers over the last couple of seasons then you can understand the frustration. However, if you look at his linemates, you then see why his numbers have gone down. Now I’m not sitting here and knocking guys like Jake DeBrusk, Rick Nash, and David Backes. I’m just saying that they can only do so much for Krejci. DeBrusk was a rookie last season and will produce more in 2018-19. As for the other group guys that have been on Krejci’s line, they just don’t have the finish in their game and have been part of the reason Krejci’s numbers have dropped.
Throughout his career Krejci has shown to be a pass first guy. He’s more likely to show up on the stat sheet with an assist, not a goal. So when you’re passing the puck it comes down to your teammates to finish the play with a goal and register the points. The guys that Krejci has played with just haven’t been able to finish. Enter David Pastrnak. Pastrnak has 69 goals over the last two seasons, which shows he can put the puck in the net. So when Krejci starts giving Pasta the puck, he’ll be scoring some goals.
In the NHL it’s important to spread out the offense so that it makes it tough for opposing teams to defend your guys. A fatal flaw for the Bruins last season in the playoffs was the lack of depth. When the top line wasn’t on the ice the Bruins seemingly had no offense. Pairing Pastrnak and Krejci on offense this season should help that. Whoever gets top line minutes with Bergeron and Marchand will be fine and will produce. Then it comes down to Pastrnak and Krejci on the second line to help add offensive depth.
It’s pretty simple. If you want production from Krejci then give him guys that can produce. If you want production from the entire offense then spread out the offensive talent.
Kevin Maggiore (@kevin_maggiore)