Gionta Excited to Be Back in Boston

BOSTON - It has been 17 years since Brian Gionta called Boston home.
But after a whirlwind three weeks, which included a stint as Team USA's captain at the 208 Winter Olympics in South Korea, the former Boston College standout has returned to the Hub to resume his National Hockey League career, agreeing to a one-year, one-way contract worth $700,000 with the Bruins on Sunday.

And it's safe to say that the 39-year-old is pleased to be returning to the place that jumpstarted his hockey career.
"It's nice to be back in the city, I love it here," said Gionta, who played at BC from 1997-2001. "I loved the time and we always come back, a lot of family and a couple family members and friends still in the area. It's nice to be around."
Gionta is Hockey East's all-time leading goal scorer with 83 during his four seasons at The Heights. His 144 career points in 96 games for coach Jerry York ranks seventh all-time in the league's history.
"[York] texted me right away. It was great," said Gionta, who helped the Eagles to the 2001 National Championship. "I know they're going into their playoffs here, so I'll have to stop out and see him at some point."

The 5-foot-7, 178-pound forward is a 16-year veteran of the NHL, but has not played in the league this season as he geared up to lead the Americans in Pyeongchang. Gionta's goal was to land a job following the tournament, and just days after the U.S. was eliminated in the quarterfinals he was on a plane to Boston.
"You never know what's gonna happen, but like I said all along, I was open to a lot of opportunities and obviously this is a great situation," said Gionta. "They've got a great team and to be a part of it, whatever role I can play, I'm excited to be here…joining a great team, a team that hopefully I can complement."
Gionta has plenty of veteran experience, with 289 goals - including a franchise record 48-goal campaign for the Devils in 2005-06 - for New Jersey, Montreal, and Buffalo. The Rochester, N.Y., also won the Stanley Cup with the Devils in 2003.
"From the standpoint of depth and veteran leadership and a player that is highly motivated, it wasn't that he didn't have opportunity to play this year, he made a family decision along with an opportunity to play in the Olympics," said Bruins general manager Don Sweeney. "We've known that all along. It was a short turnaround to be able to see this come to fruition for our club and any other club that he was entertaining this.
"He just waited to see what clubs might've been in position to be in the playoff race, and we hope we continue to be one of those clubs. He is going to add to that."
Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said on Tuesday that he expects Gionta to be inserted to the lineup in the near future.
"Everything I've heard and from meeting the guys, it's a great bunch of guys, great group, so I'm just here trying to help out in any way I can," said Gionta. "I said it coming in that whatever role is asked I'm here to help and be a part of it. But you don't want to disrupt too much, they've got a great group. I just want to come in and blend in, fit in how you can."
Gionta, who coach Bruce Cassidy expects to break into the Bruins lineup at some point in the near future, has also been reunited with longtime Devils teammate and current B's assistant Jay Pandolfo.
"Pando, obviously a longtime friend and teammate," said Gionta. "You know you're getting up there, it's no secret where I am with age. It's fun to still be apart of it."