Head coach Bruce Cassidy hopeful David Krejci could return to Bruins

Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy remains hopeful that David Krejci could return to the club this season despite signing in the Czech Republic last month. 

In an interview with TSN Radio 1200 Ottawa on Tuesday, Cassidy said Krejci told the team early in the offseason that he was interested in moving his family home to the Czech Republic. However, the veteran center didn't close the door on a return to the NHL, according to Cassidy. 

"He did not close the door on returning back," Cassidy said. "I don't know if that will happen or when it will happen at all, but he didn't say I'm retiring and done from the National Hockey League. So, that's good news for us in the sense that maybe in a couple of months, he'll feel satisfied with what he needed to do, or maybe not."

Krejci played out the final season of his six-year, $43.5 million contract in 2020-21, tallying eight goals and 44 points in 51 games. When the 35-year-old announced his decision to return to the Czech Republic, he admitted it was a difficult one.

Krejci spent his entire 15-year career with the Bruins, tallying 730 points (215 goals, 515 assists) in 962 regular-season games and 124 points (42 goals, 82 assists) in 156 playoff appearances. 

The Bruins have a little more than $1 million in cap space remaining after signing Nick Foligno, Erik Haula, Tomas Nosek and Linus Ullmark, among others, in free agency this summer.