NHL Lockout: David Krejci Plays the Waiting Game in the Czech Republic

David Krejci of the Boston Bruins has been playing with HC Pardubice in his native Czech Republic during the ongoing NHL lockout. However, as 2012 comes to a close, a lot of the temporary contracts that NHL players negotiated with European teams are expiring. Each player’s case is different–some may elect to negotiate a new temporary deal while others may head home and wait–but Krejci falls into the second camp of thought.

As his Pardubice contract expires, Krejci said he plans to stay in the Czech Republic for some time and see what’s next regarding negotiations about the lockout.

“My contract is done, but I’m still in Czech for now…I’m waiting for what’s going to happen with the NHL in the next couple of weeks,” he said.

He’s ready to hop a plane and head back to Boston if (when?) the need arises, but for now, he’s in familiar territory and can probably spend some of this time with his family and friends while he waits.

Krejci’s time with Pardubice was pretty productive. He played in 24 games, had 16 goals and 11 assists and registered a +3 rating. In early December, he even scored a hat trick during a 5-0 Pardubice win. He’s among the team’s top point-getters and actually tops the team in terms of goals.

He is the latest member of the Bruins to stop playing with his European team. Tuukka Rask started the trend in late November when he left another Czech team, HC Plzen, on a high note. Chris Kelly appears to have left his Swiss team, HC Red Ice, in early December and played in a recent charity game in Toronto. Andrew Ference is taking his leave of Czech HC Mountfield due mainly in part to missing his family. Patrice Bergeron had his contract with Switzerland’s HC Lugano expire too, though he’ll play in the Spengler Cup before going back to Canada and playing the waiting game.

Now, as an ardent fan of “The Simpsons,” I know about the waiting game, but why not let Homer Simpson tell us about the nature of the waiting game himself?

http://youtu.be/xJqg_-wXnuU

Indeed.

 

Related:

Two more Boston Bruins leave their European teams

Chris Kelly to play in RBC Play Hockey Charity Challenge

David Krejci’s hat trick

Tuukka Rask leaves HC Plzen on a high note