from Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe,

Jeremy Jacobs is not wailing over David Krejci’s decision to say no to playing in the World Cup of Hockey. Millions in postseason revenue, which have bypassed Delaware North’s vaults for the past two years, could go elsewhere again in 2016-17 if Krejci’s health declines for a third straight season. Jacobs pays Krejci a team-high $7.25 million to play for the Bruins, not put his body at risk in a glorified preseason tournament.

But while Krejci’s offseason hip surgery granted him a get-out-of-jail-free card, neither Patrice Bergeron nor Brad Marchand had similar luck when landing on Chance or Community Chest. Bergeron and Marchand are healthy, which made them eligible for Team Canada entry. So while Krejci was easing into his weekend on Friday and Saturday, Bergeron, Marchand, new teammate David Backes, and the rest of the players from the US and Canadian teams were plucked out of an ice bath and plopped into an inferno.

The eternal adversaries clashed on Friday in Columbus in the exhibition opener. After the game, they traveled to Ottawa. The following night, the Americans and Canadians were scheduled to square off again. Each team is carrying just two extra skaters, meaning most players were due for back-to-backs — including travel.

Had Mike Babcock tried that in Toronto with Nazem Kadri, Morgan Rielly, or AustonMatthews, the executives of Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment would have stuffed their millions down their coach’s throat.

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