The Boston Bruins are ready and rarin’ to go:

• Zdeno Chara expects the Bruins to be fit and ready to play. [ESPN]
• Nathan Horton speaks about being glad to be back in action. [NESN]
• Milan Lucic is ready for both fatherhood and a new season. [Boston Herald]
• Andrew Ference has big plans for opening night. [@ferknuckle]
• Haggs enumerates five things that could go wrong for the Bruins this season. [CSNNE]
• Former Bruins Brian Rolston and Mike Knuble among those facing retirement decisions. [Star Tribune]
• David Krejci is back, as is Anton Khudobin, who says he would consider returing to Russia at the end of his contract. [WEEI]
• The folks at Days of Y’Orr and Shawn Thornton wonder if you’re free on the 17th? [Days of Y’Orr]
• And Backhand Shelf is holding a Google Hangout with Milan Lucic at 3pm TODAY. [Backhand Shelf]

Welcome back, NHL fans! Or rather, PLEASE COME BACK:

• The Penguins and Lightning are offering incentives as an apology to NHL fans. [ProHockeyTalk]
• …and the Predators also sweeten the deal. [ProHockeyTalk]
• A Ducks fan thanks mediator Scot Beckenbaugh, forgive the jersey fail… [Fox Sports]
• A young woman’s blog about her trip to Russia for World Juniors. [Grantland]