One major risk of holding the 2016 World Cup of Hockey in September is that the tournament intersects with players who might be healing up from previous injuries.
(The summer is a great time to get closer to 100 percent, even if it costs training camp and maybe a few regular season games to do so ...)
The names of players who cannot suit up for their respective countries/continents continue to trickle in. Earlier today, word surfaced that Jeff Carter probably won’t be able to go for Canada. Now it appears that lingering hip issues will prompt David Krejci to sit this one out, leaving behind a big role for the Czech Republic to fill.
#Bruins F David Krejci will NOT play for Czech republic at World Cup of Hockey. He isn't ready to go after hip surgery.
— Roman Jedlicka (@jedli) September 2, 2016
Krejci, 30, underwent hip surgery around early May. The Boston Bruins stated that both Krejci and Torey Krug were doing well recovering from their operations in mid-July.
It’s unclear if Krejci will be good to go once the regular season begins - their season begins in Columbus on Oct. 13 - but it would make little sense for the scoring center to rush back.
Krejci pulling out of WC is not a shock. Still not going full speed following hip surgery. Has six weeks to get ready for opener
— steve conroy (@conroyherald) September 2, 2016
This post will be updated if Krejci or the Bruins make this official, but it would be surprising these reports were dismissed.
Bruins F David Krejci will not play in the World Cup... Not ready after the surgery... Czech team announced
— Zdenek Janda (@zdenek_janda) September 2, 2016