While the Bruins are in the Czech Republic preparing for their season opener, one ex-Bruin has found a new home in neighboring Slovakia.
Forward Miroslav Satan, who played the second half of last season and the playoffs with Boston, signed with HC Slovan Bratislava on Monday. HC Slovan Bratislava is part of the Slovak Extraliga, the top league in Satan's native Slovakia.
Satan was an unrestricted free agent after the one-year deal he signed with Boston in January expired at the end of last season, but he went unsigned this summer. Satan, 35, finished with 9-5-14 totals in 39 games with the Bruins, and was especially effective in the postseason.
He added 5-5-10 totals in 13 games in the playoffs, tying with Mark Recchi for third on the team. He clicked on a line with center David Krejci, but did not have a point in the final four games of Boston's second-round loss to Philadelphia after Krejci was sidelined with a dislocated wrist.
While Satan will start the season in Europe, his new deal includes an out clause that would allow him to return to the NHL this season. His agent, Allan Walsh, tweeted on Monday afternoon that, "We are talking with 4 NHL teams on Miro, SVK contract is game to game."
Satan, who turns 36 on Oct. 22, has played 1,050 games over 14 seasons in the NHL, putting up 363-372-735 totals with Edmonton, Buffalo, the New York Islanders, Pittsburgh and Boston. He has another 21-33-54 in 86 postseason games, winning a Cup with Pittsburgh in 2009.