Jaromir Jagr opens up in interview

• Jaromir Jagr understands Flyers%27 attempt to pursue Zach Parise and Ryan Suter
• Jagr on marathon bombings%3A %27The whole world is scary when you look at it%27
• He says he wants to play in the NHL next season

PHILADELPHIA — Boston Bruins right wing Jaromir Jagr, an NHL all-time great who was a Flyer last season, returned to Philadelphia on Tuesday for the first time since leaving.

Jagr had a solid season last season, then afterward said he'd like to return. Instead, he signed a one-year, $4.5 million deal with Dallas. Then late into this lockout-shortened season, the 41-year-old was traded to the Boston Bruins.

After the Bruins' morning skate Tuesday, Jagr talked about his season with the Flyers, not returning this season, the Boston Marathon bombings and a lot more.

Here's what he had to say in a 10-minute interview:

Is being back in Philadelphia good memories for you?

"It was pretty good last year. That's for sure. It's too bad we didn't beat New Jersey (in the second round of the playoffs) to go a little further. I had fun."

Flyers fans have talked a lot about you since you left. A lot wanted you back this season. What went wrong? Did you ever get an offer from (Flyers general manager Paul) Holmgren? Was it they wanted to wait to see if free agents Zach Parise or Ryan Suter accepted their offers?

"I don't want to talk about it anymore because it happened a year ago and you cannot bring that back, so you should not worry about it. I understand they want to get the best players available in the free market, but I think it's good for them that they didn't do it. They've got good enough players. They didn't have to it. They're a good enough team here. If they would have a little more patience, this (Flyers) team can win it in two, three years, that's for sure."

At the end of last season, you said it 2011-12 was the most fun you had in hockey. Do you still feel that way?

"Yeah. I came back from (three seasons in) Russia and I was missing the NHL a little bit, especially in the playoff games with the fans. The fans are so good here (in the NHL). They follow the sport and Boston is so similar to Philly. Boston people and Philly people, they love the sport. They love their teams. They follow the hockey, they follow the baseball, they follow the football. It's similar to here (in Philadelphia)."

Scott Hartnell and Claude Giroux had their best seasons playing on a line with you last season. Their numbers are down a little this season. Have you reached out to them during the season at all by sending them a text for encouragement or talked to them on the phone?

"We've had some conversations, but I didn't want to say much. They worry about their team, I was worried about my team. I wanted to play my best hockey. So did they. That sometimes happen (that points drop), especially with a short season when you have a bad start as a team. It's not easy to come back. You have to make sure you have a good first 10 games to get the confidence and get those points, because it's a lot easier to get then than later on in the season."

At the end of last season, you said that you would have been able to put up more points if you had received more ice time in the final month when you were dropped from the top line. Did your playing time or how Peter Laviolette used you late factor in you not returning to the Flyers this season?

"I love the game, so nothing has changed there. I like to play. If I feel good, I want to play the most I can play because I love the game. If I feel I can help the team, I want to be on the ice. Even here (in Boston), I'm playing on the third line, but I get a lot of ice time and I don't complain. The coached explained to me we want to have three good lines and I'm fine with that. I don't have to play on the first or second line. The coach gave me a chance to play here (in Boston) and he explained to me how it is. I'm fine with that and I love it."

How are you jelling with your Bruins linemates, Chris Kelly and Carl Soderberg?

"We had a lot of injuries when I came here, so coach had to change the lines and I was playing with almost everybody and I understand that. But I've had a lot of ice time and even right now I'm on the third line, but I'm getting the ice time. It's up to me how I'm going to produce. I understand what the situations is: In the playoffs you have to have three lines to be tough to check.

Do you like the direction the Bruins are headed?

"Even when we lost against Pittsburgh and (Buffalo), I feel we played our best hockey. We just couldn't score. Sometimes the sport is like that. I like the way we play. If we continue the way we play in the last three games, it's a matter of time before we score goals."

What is scary being in Boston last week after the Boston Marathon bombings?

"Of course. It's scary. The whole world is scary when you look at it. It can happen anywhere, anytime. It's too sad it happened at the Boston Marathon, but like I said, I can happen anywhere, anytime. It's tough to find them, but Boston police and Boston city did such a great time and we really appreciate it. But it's pretty tough to stop."

Do you want to rest in one of the Bruins' final games?

"If I be healthy, I want to play. I feel more tired when I rest. I have to play all the time. I have to practice a lot. I have to play. My body is kind of different. I'm getting tired when I have rest. I would rather to play every game ... two games. Doubleheader like in baseball! I would feel the best!"

You're a freak, right?

"That's what I told you! Too bad they're not doubleheaders in hockey. I've love it. I would feel a lot better the second game."

You spent a lot of time with fellow Czech Jakub Voracek last season and he took a step forward. This year, his game has improved again with a career-best in goals in a lockout season. Are you proud of what he's done?

"It's all about the opportunity that he got. When you get the opportunity, you have to be ready to grab it when you grab. I think he did it. He's strong on his skates. He can skate very good. Right now when he plays with (Giroux), the more ice time is coming, the passes are coming, the opportunity is coming and he did a great job to grab the chances."

Just to be clear, did you ever receive an offer from the Flyers last summer or not?

"Well, the think I understand is that if you give two offers to free agents, even if you send the offers to those two players (Parise and Suter), you can not give two offers to somebody else. Because if they grab it, with the salary cap, what are you going to do? So they had to wait for those players to say no and it took them a week. So it's the whole free market."

Did it upset you that the Flyers made you wait?

"I don't know how I would describe it. Upset? I was happy here (in Philadelphia). Everybody knew it. I loved that team. I loved the fans. I loved the city. But on the other side, I always believe in God. And I always believed He would find the best place for me. I had a fate that something good would happen to me even if (returning to Philadelphia) didn't happen."

Is returning to Philadelphia next season a possibility?

"You know what, I don't even want to talk about anything right now. I've got a job to do here (with Boston)."

Do you want to play in the NHL next season? You'll be 42

"Of course I want to play. If I'm going to be play in the NHL, I want to play in the NHL. I told you that I love the hockey. I love the game. I don't get tired when I practice. I don't get tired when I play games. So I don't play in the NHL, I'm going to play somewhere else. I'll stop playing when I did, man!"

I heard you want to play longer than Gordie Howe, who played until he was 51. True?

"Yeah, but not here!"

How was your half-season in Dallas?

"It was sunny!"

Randy Miller also writes for the (Cherry Hill, N.J.) Courier-Post