David Krejci (Photo Credit: Steph Phillips)
As we all know nine members of the Boston Bruins organization are currently playing overseas. As if the recent news of Tuukka Rask injuring himself isn’t enough to get bummed about, we know have some hastiness from forward David Krejci as well. While he isn’t necessarily pulling the Tim Thomas and making a mountain out of a mole hill, he is making some waves over in the Czech Republic. A couple days ago in the locker room after a game he spoke about the lockout to a Czech sports website. (Interview has been run through Google Translate, but it gets the general message across)
“We want to play, we’re the ones who are doing the show in the NHL, but Bettman thinks it makes him. It is unfortunate that the NHL have such a guy. It’s a shame for the entire hockey world. Treats us like animals. Really a shame that he is in the lead,” Krejci said about the commissioner.
He also mentioned the meeting between representatives of the NHL and NHLPA last week, which did not end well.
“Our Association will give the owners three proposals and they get blown out on the table in 15 minutes. I have to say about it. Bettman took in $ 3.5 million of last choice and it is now at eight,” he said, mentioning how Bettman’s salary rose from $3.5 million in 2004-05 to $8 million today. “I was hoping that at least one of our proposal to adopt or abide at least addressed. I expected their interest, but not a clue. They would not mind as much if the year was wrong. It’s very frustrating for us,” he added. (via Emma Harger)
Over the course of the past couple of days the center has been portrayed in a not-so-positive light and e-mailed CSNNE.com to make a statement regarding his comments.
“I regret my recent comments about the lockout which were made flippantly in the locker room after our last game. I did not intend for them to be recorded,” said Krejci. “Specifically, I have been treated very well by the Boston Bruins and wish to confirm that my comments should not reflect on my club in any way. I regret any inference to the contrary.”(via csnne.com)
While he may have clarified he did not mean to speak negatively about the Bruins organization, he did not retract any statements made about Bettman. At least the center is owning up to what he said and standing behind it rather than hunkering down in a hut somewhere in Florida hunting gators…just saying.
A Cup A Bruin 