David Krejci still “to be determined” for opening night vs. Stars with lower body injury

BRIGHTON, Mass – David Krejci skated a partial practice with the team on Tuesday but remains a “TBD” for Thursday night’s opener against the Dallas Stars with a lower-body injury. Krejci hasn’t played since suffering the lower-body injury over a week ago two shifts into his preseason debut, but has been on the ice each of the last two days in a clear step forward.

Krejci skated prior to practice on Monday, and went through some early line drills on Tuesday morning at Warrior Ice Arena while wearing a no-contact jersey while on the ice. Krejci excited the ice once the contact drills began and Swedish center Par Lindholm took Krejci’s place centering Jake DeBrusk and Karson Kuhlman on the second line.

Bruins general manager Don Sweeney gave a brief update on Tuesday’s Bruins Media Day, but said it’s still unknown whether No. 46 will be able to go against the Stars.

“It’s to be determined still. He worked his way back out there for practice, and hopefully he’ll continue to do the same, so we’ll evaluate him every day. He’s a possibility [for opening night],” said Sweeney. “Obviously, we’d like to be 100 percent healthy. Joakim Nordstrom is not going to start with us – an injury we’ve been looking at, been working his way back in.

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“Obviously, [David Krejci] is still working his way back. We start with no [Kevan] Miller and [John]

Moore, and then [Krejci] got hurt, so that’s one of the primary concerns in the organization where

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we’re going to be health-wise. [It is] next man up in those situations.”

There’s really no reason to rush Krejci at this point given how early it is in the season, but it’s also not a great first sign after the 34-year-old played an impressive 81 games last season while posting 20 goals and 73 points. Krejci hopes to be ready, but even for him it all sounded like it’s a bit of an unknown 48 hours prior to game time.

“I hope so,” said Krejci, when asked if he’ll be I would love to play. But I can’t give you an answer right now. I skated yesterday and today with the team a little bit. That means I feel better when I’m skating with the team. So we’ll see.”

Since it’s a short term injury, the Bruins may just plug Lindholm in for a game or two on the second line so as not to disrupt the rest of their forward lines. Charlie Coyle would undoubtedly replace Krejci if it was a longer-term injury, but instead, it appears the Bruins will leave him to start on the third line based on the line combos and D-pairings at Tuesday’s practice: