Andrew Ference acknowledged that dealing with the realization he wouldn't be back with the Bruins was a bit of a distraction. He had a feeling he wouldn't be coming back when he wasn't approached about an extension as he finished out the final year of his deal. General manager Peter Chiarelli made it official today. "Nobody is going to do their job as effectively when there is uncertainty," said the 34-year-old Ference. "At different times of the year it affected me differently. I think at a certain time of the year I just resigned myself to the fact [I wasn't coming back] and that was a good thing to do. The people that make up this city are unbelievable. The best friends that we have in our lives are all from here. The lifestyle and the area that you live in has enormous impact on your quality of life and your performance on the ice. "But it's not a fun thing.