Czech centreman David Krejčí, a longtime mainstay of both the Boston Bruins and Narodnitym, today announced his retirement from professional hockey at the age of 37, after sixteen pro seasons in Boston, along with another two in the Czech league.

Starting with his hometown HC Olomouc’s youth squad, Krejčí would leave Czechia for his junior career, spending two seasons in the QMJHL before joining the Bruins, who drafted him 63rd overall in 2004, debuting in 2006 for his first of sixteen seasons with the B’s. Krejčí would be a crucial part of his three Stanley Cup Finals runs with Boston, winning the Cup in 2011, leading the playoffs that season in goals and points; he would also remarkably make the playoffs all but three seasons in Boston, and twice led the league in plus/minus (2009, 2014). Krejčí would return to the Czech Extraliga on two separate occasions, spending part of 2012 with HC Pardubice during a lockout, and returning to Olomouc for the 2021-22 season, both to be closer to family and be eligible to play at the 2022 Olympics. But after returning to the Bruins for their historic 2022-23 season, Krejčí decided to hang it up after 786 points in 1,032 career games, along with another 128 points in 160 career playoff games.

An Olomouc native, Krejčí first joined the national team with the Under-16 squad in 2001, making his World Junior Debut in 2005, capturing Bronze in his first of two appearances.  Krejčí made his senior debut at the 2008 World Championship, his first of four (2008, 2012, 2018, 2022) appearances, capturing Bronze in both 2012 and 2022, and was a three-time Olympian (2010, 2014, 2022). While playing in Czechia, Krejčí also made appearances on the Euro Hockey Tour in 2012-13 and 2021-22, capping his senior team career with 37 points in 52 total games between 2008 and 2022.

Thanks to his consistent NHL playoff success, Krejčí actually only captured the IHLC three times over the course of his career, with his first coming only in 2018, with two additional wins in 2022, before and during his final World Championship. We wish David and his family the very best for his retirement and the things to come!

Photo Credit: Hanácká Drbna – IIHF – HHOF – IOC