David Krejci joins parade of World Cup of Hockey opt-outs
Boston Bruins center David Krejci said he wouldn’t play in the World Cup of Hockey if he didn’t feel 100 percent after offseason hip surgery.
He doesn’t feel 100 percent. You can imagine where it goes from there.
Krejci became the latest player to pull out from the World Cup of Hockey, as Czech TV Nova Sports reporter Zdenek Matejovsky confirmed with Team Czech Republic GM Martin Rucinsky that Krejci won’t play due to injury.
He joins several NHL players who have pulled out of the World Cup due to injury, injury rehab or out of concern for their regular-season health. Jeff Carter of Team Canada was the latest, replaced by Corey Perry.
Said Krejci last week, via CSN New England:
“If I’m ready then that would be awesome, but if not then I have to do what I have to do to be 100 percent. I’m in contact with the national team coach, and we talk pretty every week. They’re asking about my updates, so they know what’s going on. I’m sure they have some backup plan if it’s not going to work out. We’ll see what happens.”
His replacement? Forward Roman Cervenka, 30, of Fribourg-Gotteron (Swiss NLA), who played 39 games with the Calgary Flames in 2012-13 but has spent the rest of his career in the Czech leagues, KHL and now Switzerland.
Here’s a snapshot of the Czech team forward group as of Saturday:
Just a reminder that Canada and the U.S. are in a group with Team Europe and Team Czech Republic, because this entire tournament is rigged to get them to the semifinals and get a Canada vs. U.S. final for ESPN.
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Greg Wyshynski is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter. His book, TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE PUCK, is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.
