David Krejci would have returned, with or without Bruce Cassidy

; DAY

The Bruins owe the return of David Krejci to Patrice Bergeron, not the firing of Bruce Cassidy.

When general manager Don Sweeney decided to fire head coach Bruce Cassidy this summer after he hinted that a “new voice” would benefit some players.

Krejci left the Bruins to play in his native Czech Republic in 2021-2022. However, his new one-year contract with the Bruins, he would have signed it with or without Cassidy.

“It would be a good story if I said yes,” Krejci said at a press conference on Tuesday. My decision was made before they hired the new coach. [Cassidy's] firing had nothing to do with my decision to come back.

Playing with the guys

Krejci had been considering the possibility of being back in Massachusetts for a while. He revealed that it was discussions with Quebecer Patrice Bergeron – who also made the decision to play at least one more season with the Bruins – and David Pastrnak that motivated him to cross the Atlantic Ocean again. /p>

“I have to give credit to Bergeron and him [Pastrnak]. We've had so many conversations over the past few months about whether or not to come back. They are the reason I wanted to come back. Playing with those guys again.”

Krejci had 20 goals and 46 points in 51 games with Olomouc HC in the Czech first division last season. He also tallied 215 goals and 730 points in 962 National Hockey League games, all with the Bruins.

If he's closer to retirement now than the day he was drafted , the 36-year-old forward believes he can still give a lot to the Bruins.

“I feel like I still have a lot to offer. I know people talk about my age, but that's just a number. I'm in good shape and I'm obviously coming back to try to go all the way,” he said.