Mark Burke – Follow @m_burke42

As the Bruins prepare to embark on a four-game West Coast road trip, they’ll be doing so without the services of their #1 center.

David Krejci, who’s missed 13 games already this season, will see that total raise to 17 games by the time the Black and Gold drop the puck against the Arizona Coyotes next Saturday. Head coach Claude Julien said #46 will stay in Boston to work on his rehab assignment.

The Bruins officially placed Krejci on Injured Reserve to free up a roster spot for Craig Cunningham.

For what exactly, we still don’t know, as the Bruins have yet to disclose the nature of the injury. But word has trickled out here and there, with DJ Bean of WEEI reporting it was a hip injury, and Steve Conroy of the Boston Herald reporting it was a groin strain.

Well, as it turns out, they both might be right. Joe Haggerty of CSNNE.com explains:

The Boston Herald reported it to be a groin injury for Krejci, but it’s believed to be a “cascading injury” where the groin problem is related to a hip issue that’s also bothered the playmaking center through the first few months of the season.

The Bruins need Krejci in the lineup, as his absence has seen the offense turn anemic and cast the lines asunder. The Bruins have found trios that stick for the time being, namely the Lucic-Soderberg-Eriksson line, but they need a healthy Krejci to keep their backbone in order, and keep their offense firing on all cylinders.

Are you concerned about Krejci's health?



