Player Discussion Zdeno Chara - II

[Boston Bandit]

"He's one of our, if not our best defensemen. ... Zee's got a lot of hockey left in him," Cassidy said. "I know that for a fact. He trains harder than anybody I know. His conditioning is through the roof. He's trying to stay current with the game and the way it's played and working on his puck skills and getting back on pucks. Those little things that the average person doesn't see every night that he's working on, probably three or four games after we lost out.

"He wants to have his legacy run longer than just one or more year. I wouldn't put it past him to play four or five more years in this league. But again, that's speculation, but we're looking forward to another great year from him. He's our leader."

Bruce Cassidy on Zdeno Chara: 'I wouldn't put it past him to play 4 or 5 more years in this league'

 

[Boston Bandit]

 

[mikelvl]

you must be JOKIN

lol

TWO to four years, way to pick and choose. And this has a lot better chance to happen that Chara retiring this year.

I really want RocketDan to be our buddy DKH trolling all of us!!

 

[False Start]

TWO to four years, way to pick and choose. And this has a lot better chance to happen that Chara retiring this year.

I really want RocketDan to be our buddy DKH trolling all of us!!

Do people really not think he'll be at worst a PK specialist on the third pair at like age 43?

Because I think that's what's gonna happen. I think he'll be around for that 2 year range you said.

 

[Dr Hook]

Do people really not think he'll be at worst a PK specialist on the third pair at like age 43?

Because I think that's what's gonna happen. I think he'll be around for that 2 year range you said.

Who knows? If there is one guy I won’t bet against in keeping himself fit enough to keep playing at a decent level it’s Chara. Age catches everyone. My knees were reminding me of that just this morning. That said, he might have another 3 or 4 seasons in him in which he is not a sad shell that everyone is embarrassed for.

 

[Fenway]

Zdeno Chara embraces his Instagram account | Boston.com

Bruins fans scrolling through their Instagram feed last week likely spotted an encouraging development from a familiar, albeit recently absent, face.

Defenseman Zdeno Chara — who suffered a left MCL injury against the Colorado Avalanche on Nov. 14 — shared a slo-mo video of himself wearing a weighted vest while engaging in a strength exercise at Warrior Ice Arena. Chara has missed the Bruins’ last 16 games, though he is expected to return to practice Wednesday.

“With great work and help from our entire Bruins Medical and Rehabilitation staff, we are making progress every day,’’ he wrote in the caption. “Eager to be back at full strength and playing.’’

Instagram is a relatively new endeavor for the 41-year-old captain, who started his account in January. Since joining the photo- and video-sharing social media platform, he has only further endeared himself to fans via detailed captions accompanying imagery from various aspects of his professional and personal life.

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

Zdeno Chara embraces his Instagram account | Boston.com

Bruins fans scrolling through their Instagram feed last week likely spotted an encouraging development from a familiar, albeit recently absent, face.

Defenseman Zdeno Chara — who suffered a left MCL injury against the Colorado Avalanche on Nov. 14 — shared a slo-mo video of himself wearing a weighted vest while engaging in a strength exercise at Warrior Ice Arena. Chara has missed the Bruins’ last 16 games, though he is expected to return to practice Wednesday.

“With great work and help from our entire Bruins Medical and Rehabilitation staff, we are making progress every day,’’ he wrote in the caption. “Eager to be back at full strength and playing.’’

Instagram is a relatively new endeavor for the 41-year-old captain, who started his account in January. Since joining the photo- and video-sharing social media platform, he has only further endeared himself to fans via detailed captions accompanying imagery from various aspects of his professional and personal life.

His Instagram account is great. Most of that app is (obviously) a lot of people acting very superficial. Seeing his posts just reminds you of his humbleness and his dedication. Truly a great human being on and off the ice.

 

[PB37]

I don't think Cassidy will role them out like this, but putting Chara on the bottom pairing 5v5 while giving him top pairing minutes on the PK might be the best way to preserve him for the playoff run. The current crop of D is getting the job done for the most part.


Grz -- McAvoy

Krug -- Carlo

Chara -- Moore

 

[ODAAT]

take away the hundreds of pounds on the bar bell and I could do that

 

[Alicat]

I just want to say how much I love Big Z.

Thanks Ottawa

 

[Krupp]

Can't wait til the Captain is back. I really mean that.

And I know it has to mean a lot to the team, too. He and Bergy make all the difference in the world

 

[Fenway]

 

[rocketdan9]

Who else misses Kampfer?

All joking aside

This team is quicker overall without the monster... this is not about the rust vs adapting to the modern league

Cant believe some Chara die hards hope he plays for another 3 years

 

[22Brad Park]

Who else misses Kampfer?

All joking aside

This team is quicker overall without the monster... this is not about the rust vs adapting to the modern league

Cant believe some Chara die hards hope he plays for another 3 years

I said it earlier and I stand by it.I would offer him 2 million next year max.He is slow and other then PK nearly useless now.I do not believe in paying a guy for past years greatness.Sweeney did that this year.Especially in a cap era.

 

[bme44]

I said it earlier and I stand by it.I would offer him 2 million next year max.He is slow and other then PK nearly useless now.I do not believe in paying a guy for past years greatness.Sweeney did that this year.Especially in a cap era.

I agree his foot speed has simply gotten to slow. I hope he watches video and sees just how slow he has become. I certainly appreciate all the great service he has given the Bruins.

 

[Over the volcano]

His last game was before thanksgiving. Figured people would give him a game or two back before the knives came out - nope.

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

he was definitely rusty last night.

He was especially terrible with the puck. Every time there was a loose puck, he was trying to obstruct the forward from getting to it rather than gathering the puck himself. And then when he had the puck...that’s a whole other story.

I honestly think the answer here is somewhat in between. A pretty large portion of the board (maybe the majority) want him here unconditionally into the foreseeable future and a lot of other people pretty much just want him gone.

I think that, as long as the price is right and we are easing off of the reliance on him, he should stay for another couple years at the right price. Unless his knee injury was this bad, he is far better than he showed last night.

I think the playoffs, if we get there, is going to show a lot about his future. Can he keep up with that pace at this point? Four years ago, I would’ve said no, but Cassidy’s style has seemed to miraculously extend his shelf life in my eyes. I thought he was done a number of years ago but turned back the clock the last couple years.

Regardless, I’m going to be watching him many more games post-injury before throwing in the towel completely on him. I think that’s only fair, but I also think the unconditional love affair of some because of the guy’s mystique and legacy is pure foolishness and it’s quite prevalent on this board.

 

[Over the volcano]

he was definitely rusty last night.

He was especially terrible with the puck. Every time there was a loose puck, he was trying to obstruct the forward from getting to it rather than gathering the puck himself. And then when he had the puck...that’s a whole other story.

I honestly think the answer here is somewhat in between. A pretty large portion of the board (maybe the majority) want him here unconditionally into the foreseeable future and a lot of other people pretty much just want him gone.

I think that, as long as the price is right and we are easing off of the reliance on him, he should stay for another couple years at the right price. Unless his knee injury was this bad, he is far better than he showed last night.

I think the playoffs, if we get there, is going to show a lot about his future. Can he keep up with that pace at this point? Four years ago, I would’ve said no, but Cassidy’s style has seemed to miraculously extend his shelf life in my eyes. I thought he was done a number of years ago but turned back the clock the last couple years.

Regardless, I’m going to be watching him many more games post-injury before throwing in the towel completely on him. I think that’s only fair, but I also think the unconditional love affair of some because of the guy’s mystique and legacy is pure foolishness and it’s quite prevalent on this board.

Don't feel bad about being wrong on him for the last four years- people have been saying he's too slow and cant skate well enough since he broke into the league. . .

 

[chizzler]

Don't feel bad about being wrong on him for the last four years- people have been saying he's too slow and cant skate well enough since he broke into the league. . .

He’s good at stopping an offense, but after getting puck, its nail biting time.

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

Don't feel bad about being wrong on him for the last four years- people have been saying he's too slow and cant skate well enough since he broke into the league. . .

He slipped pretty hard into Claude Julien’s system in the last couple of years in my opinion, and was just sort of going through the motions every game. Not that he wasn’t playing a hard nosed game, but it seemed pretty glaring to me that his play was based off of nothing more than system and repetition.

If we had any other guy in the same body as Chara, I’d say that it’s impossible he’s going to be effective (at any level of the NHL game) for another two or three years. But if anyone can do it, it’s Chara.

I am concerned about the knee injury, however, at this point in his career. Those kind of injuries take more mobile defenseman out of the league, so it’s a little scary to think of what Z has dealt with/is dealing with as a guy who is bigger than any other person who has played at his level of the game.

 

[Over the volcano]

He slipped pretty hard into Claude Julien’s system in the last couple of years in my opinion, and was just sort of going through the motions every game. Not that he wasn’t playing a hard nosed game, but it seemed pretty glaring to me that his play was based off of nothing more than system and repetition.

If we had any other guy in the same body as Chara, I’d say that it’s impossible he’s going to be effective (at any level of the NHL game) for another two or three years. But if anyone can do it, it’s Chara.

I am concerned about the knee injury, however, at this point in his career. Those kind of injuries take more mobile defenseman out of the league, so it’s a little scary to think of what Z has dealt with/is dealing with as a guy who is bigger than any other person who has played at his level of the game.

Paragraph 1 - that was a team wide phenomena that lead to Julien getting the boot.

Agree with the rest.

 

[rocketdan9]

Don't feel bad about being wrong on him for the last four years- people have been saying he's too slow and cant skate well enough since he broke into the league. . .

It was a different league when he broke in

where physically still was high on the list

today speed is the name of the game

 

[Over the volcano]

It was a different league when he broke in

where physically still was high on the list

today speed is the name of the game

You’re right, it was a different league and even then he was “too slow” and “couldn’t skate well enough”. It’s the same old song

 

[rocketdan9]

You’re right, it was a different league and even then he was “too slow” and “couldn’t skate well enough”. It’s the same old song

It doesn't matter if you were too slow 5-10 years ago. How do you think Lucic, Backes, Chara, Perry etc. not only survived but were considered top players in the league.

In todays league players like Marner, Wood ... small but very fast players are gaining track fast. 5-10 years ago, both type of players might be spending time on the injured list or rubbed out along the boards frequently

So yes, the game has sped up considerably vs Chara was always considered slow

 

[Over the volcano]

It doesn't matter if you were too slow 5-10 years ago. How do you think Lucic, Backes, Chara, Perry etc. not only survived but were considered top players in the league.

Because people who said they were too slow back then were wrong.