WILMINGTONDavid Krejci didn't practice with the rest of his Bruins teammates Monday morning, but he get back on the Ristuccia Arena ice for the first time since suffering a core injury last week.
Krejci skated on his own before the full team practice. While coach Claude Julien termed the center doubtful for Tuesday nights home game against the Carolina Hurricanes, he seemed to hint that Krejci may play Thursday against the Maple Leafs.
David skating this morning, so hes coming around, said Julien. Hes probably doubtful for Tuesday, but after that I would really qualify him as day-to-day.
The playmaking center injured his core last Tuesday in the middle of practice and missed the two-game road trip through Carolina and Chicago last week. Tyler Seguin centered the Bs top line between Milan Lucic and Nathan Horton in Krejci's absence and earned the praises of Julien while still getting feedback that there are some minor support and playing without the puck issues that the 19-year-old has to tighten.
The bottom line, however: Seguin has been a point-per-game player in the seasons first five contests and has visibly lifted up his power forward cohorts.
That line with Tylereven in practicehas really started building some chemistry, so its been interesting to watch, said Julien. They all have their strengths. The young kid has good speed and Krejci has great vision as a playmaker. It gives us an opportunity to see what lies ahead for Tyler and what hes going to bring us down the road.
Hes only going to get better, so its been a great opportunity for him and its been great for us to see. Hes had some great success on that line. Offensively hes been good and defensively without the puck as well. Thats the biggest challenge for a guy like him. There are still some areas where wed like him to be a little better, supporting and being in better positions. But he hasnt been a negative. If anything hes been a real positive asset for that line right now.
Boston Bruins
The question now becomes what happens when Krejci is finally ready to play, given that Bostons top line has produced goals in each of the last two games with the second-year phenom at the controls. Its difficult to envision Krejci not settling right back into his No. 1 center spot, but its also undeniable that Seguin has sparked much more offensive action out of his big dog wingers.