Player Discussion Zdeno Chara - II

[b in vancouver]

Does Chara have a $3M Bonus on top of the $5M contract?

 

[GloryDaze4877]

Does Chara have a $3M Bonus on top of the $5M contract?

Chara has a base salary of $5m.

$1.25m performance bonus for games played (which he has already reached).

$250k for qualifying for playoffs.

$250k for winning a Cup.

Zdeno Chara - CapFriendly - NHL Salary Caps

 

[Estlin]

A good GM has to be a little ruthless. In Sweeney's case, he should set aside any sentimentality when it comes to Chara and look to the future of the Boston Bruins. The team already has Krug, Grzelcyk and Moore on the left side, and Lauzon and Vaak are probably ready to assume regular duties in Boston next season. If I were Sweeney, I'd let Chara walk, but as GD said above, the conversation and parting of ways needs to be done tactfully.

 

[JRull86]

As much as I'd like to see Chara reach the 1000 games with Boston plateau, I'm just not sure at this point. He's looked like a shell of himself since coming back from the knee.

 

[JRull86]

I'd like to see Sweeney hold off on his extension until the end of the Bruins season (hopefully after a playoff run) to really gage Chara and their options with him.

Any thought that he might be injured? Or is this the reality of his play now at his age?

I mean age is obviously part of it, but he hasn't looked good at all since returning from that knee injury.

Remember the last time it happened to him, it took him until next season to really look right again, and that was what...5 years ago?

 

[b in vancouver]

Chara has a base salary of $5m.

$1.25m performance bonus for games played (which he has already reached).

$250k for qualifying for playoffs.

$250k for winning a Cup.

Zdeno Chara - CapFriendly - NHL Salary Caps

Thanks. - couldn't open things properly this morning.

 

[The Laukomotive]

As much as I'd like to see Chara reach the 1000 games with Boston plateau, I'm just not sure at this point. He's looked like a shell of himself since coming back from the knee.

He does have over 1000 games if you count regular season + playoffs.

 

[BronxBruin]

My thoughts:

1) Chara and McAvoy need to be split up. McAvoy takes too many risks and Chara is too slow to cover for him. Chara should be put back with Carlo who a) doesn't make risky plays with the puck and b) is fast enough to cover for Chara.
2) Chara should basically be relegated to defensive zone starts and a PK specialist. He is too slow to handle transition hockey which results in way too many offensive chances for the other team.
3) Unfortunately, this needs to be Chara's last season in Boston. He is getting to the point where he is a liability out there.

 

[RussellmaniaKW]

for years people have been saying Chara is too slow, he's bad, he's cooked, he's too old, etc.

I have never agreed. He has been a top pair D even into his 40s.

This last month is the first stretch I've seen him play where I genuinely started to worry that it's finally happening.

 

[22Brad Park]

A good GM has to be a little ruthless. In Sweeney's case, he should set aside any sentimentality when it comes to Chara and look to the future of the Boston Bruins. The team already has Krug, Grzelcyk and Moore on the left side, and Lauzon and Vaak are probably ready to assume regular duties in Boston next season. If I were Sweeney, I'd let Chara walk, but as GD said above, the conversation and parting of ways needs to be done tactfully.

He handed him 6 million bucks this year.You know that is not happening.

 

[Sheppy]

Again. I respect Chara, I respect what he has done for this team, I respect him as a man. He’s a hall of famer, he will have his jersey retired.

That said, his mobility out there and decision making is absolutely abysmal. He gets the puck on his stick and it’s like he has a stroke. 90% of the time when he pinches to keep the puck in, he gets caught and there’s an odd man rush going the other way.

People use this excuse to why he doesn’t shoot the puck anymore “he doesn’t want to hurt anyone!” - That’s absolute bullshit, it’s because he simply can’t get his shot off because he needs about 900 feet of real estate to do it. Think Shea Weber cares about hurting someone with a shot?

I don’t know. I just think the train has left the station and is so far gone it shouldn’t come back. If, IF he gets a contract it shouldn’t be more than $3M.

I’m glad Bruce called out his play. I just wish people would see the reality here and maybe take him down a bit from that pedestal.

 

[Caper Bruins fan]

I agree with all of the criticisms of Chara’s play lately but I also feel he can regroup and finish the year strong but he should be playing with Carlo .

 

[Ratty]

2.5/3 million.

I like Z, but if people don't think he's slowing down and becoming an issue, they're delusional. If he agrees to sign for under 3 million. Absolutely. He's made a ton of money.

Sign him for 3 million? Didn’t you just say time to move on?

We have NHL ready LH D men in Vaakanainen and Lauzon. They have experience in the AHL, NHL (though brief) and WJC (Vaakanainen) recently. At this point neither is a Chara in his prime. But they’re ready and Z is slowing down.

You were right the first time.

 

[Over the volcano]

Again. I respect Chara, I respect what he has done for this team, I respect him as a man. He’s a hall of famer, he will have his jersey retired.

That said, his mobility out there and decision making is absolutely abysmal. He gets the puck on his stick and it’s like he has a stroke. 90% of the time when he pinches to keep the puck in, he gets caught and there’s an odd man rush going the other way.

People use this excuse to why he doesn’t shoot the puck anymore “he doesn’t want to hurt anyone!” - That’s absolute bull****, it’s because he simply can’t get his shot off because he needs about 900 feet of real estate to do it. Think Shea Weber cares about hurting someone with a shot?

I don’t know. I just think the train has left the station and is so far gone it shouldn’t come back. If, IF he gets a contract it shouldn’t be more than $3M.

I’m glad Bruce called out his play. I just wish people would see the reality here and maybe take him down a bit from that pedestal.

What did Cassidy say last night? The only quotes I found were about how his leadership is needed to keep McAvoy and Carlo from going off the reservation. Seemed like he was ripping The kids for their play and Chara for their mistakes.

 

[cat400]

No doubt Chara’s play since the injury has been subpar compared to how he had been playing this year.

Saw him live in Oct. on their first trip to Ottawa and was amazed at how well he played.

On the OT PK he was vintage Chara as the play was in a condensed area where is size and reach dominate.

If 2020 is a more realistic goal for a Cup run, then maybe Sweeney should shift focus and seek a trade for Big Z to allow him one final shot at the Cup.

To a legit contender he probably could fetch a high pick or good prospect.

 

[Oates2Neely]

I thought Chara made 3 pivotal defensive plays in the overtime. He’s not the same Chara, but he’s still a defensive weapon. Problem is he’s being deployed as a #1. He’s no longer that. However the Bruins don’t have a guy who can currently anchor that top pairing. So Cassidy still has to rely on his old horse.

 

[BruinDust]

I thought Chara made 3 pivotal defensive plays in the overtime. He’s not the same Chara, but he’s still a defensive weapon. Problem is he’s being deployed as a #1. He’s no longer that. However the Bruins don’t have a guy who can currently anchor that top pairing. So Cassidy still has to rely on his old horse.

They need to get him away from McAvoy right now. McAvoy is struggling and it's not doing Chara any favors as he is still recovering essentially from the knee injury.

Put Chara with Carlo and deploy them appropriately as a defensive shut-down pair.

 

[arider1990]

They need to get him away from McAvoy right now. McAvoy is struggling and it's not doing Chara any favors as he is still recovering essentially from the knee injury.

Put Chara with Carlo and deploy them appropriately as a defensive shut-down pair.

How about something crazy like putting Carlo and McAvoy together than putting Chara with either Grz or Krug.

 

[Chief Nine]

I thought Chara made 3 pivotal defensive plays in the overtime. He’s not the same Chara, but he’s still a defensive weapon. Problem is he’s being deployed as a #1. He’s no longer that. However the Bruins don’t have a guy who can currently anchor that top pairing. So Cassidy still has to rely on his old horse.

I was at the game last night and I saw exactly what you've noted here. That said, he looked slow and out of position a lot. Now he's playing forwards to go past him to the corners and make up for it by positioning himself to defend below the circle and between the crease. If they could move him to the 2nd pairing that might help but someone like McAvoy must step up. Him and Chara didn't look good together when paired

 

[BruinDust]

How about something crazy like putting Carlo and McAvoy together than putting Chara with either Grz or Krug.

Depends on how comfortable each guy is playing their off-side. As far as skill-sets go it could work.

 

[arider1990]

Depends on how comfortable each guy is playing their off-side. As far as skill-sets go it could work.

Grz has played with Chara on his off-side this season. It would be interesting on the other two though.

 

[BruinDust]

Grz has played with Chara on his off-side this season. It would be interesting on the other two though.

Yeah the two righties (McAvoy and Carlo) would likely be the bigger challenge having on guy on his off-side. For whatever reason it seems harder for righties to switch. Brian Burke was on the radio yesterday talking about Muzzin and Reilly and having one guy play his off-side and said it shouldn't be a big deal as whichever one it is will be a lefty. Then he cited Jacob Trouba (a righty) who he claims absolutely cannot function playing on the left side.

 

[Alberta_OReilly_Fan]

is it a coincidence that 2 years ago chara was carlo's partner and carlo blew us all away with how impressive he was {a lot of posters here said carlo carried chara he was so good lol}

and last year carlo played with McAvoy and we were saying McAvoy is a future Norris trophy winner and the best young dman in the nhl

and this year... back with carlo and somare are saying carlo is better than McAvoy because of the struggles McAvoy is having and how carlo has bounced back after his struggles last year.

hmmm... coincidence?
I suppose so because as we all know chara sucks and should retire lol

as to the debate... can chara play the right side???

I got him on my ehm sim team and they rate him very strong on the right side. I am not sure what they base that on? but if we trade kevan miller next year and bring back chara to play 3rd pair right side with a kid like Urho/lauzon as his partner that might be a great way to break the kid into the lineup.

only question for me... are either McAvoy or carlo able to be great without chara carrying their load for them

 

[duffy]

for years people have been saying Chara is too slow, he's bad, he's cooked, he's too old, etc.

I have never agreed. He has been a top pair D even into his 40s.

This last month is the first stretch I've seen him play where I genuinely started to worry that it's finally happening.

You've obviously been wearing the Rose colored glasses for way too long then! Chara has been a pylon for the better part of two years and this year he has been a liability every time he's on the ice! Love what he brought to the team but it's time for him to take a job with management.

 

[UConn126]

After seeing the B's in person last night, my thoughts on Chara are that it's time to move on. I love and respect that guy for all he's done for the franchise, but he's become very beatable. I still think he could be effective on the third pair, but with his history with this team and the letter on his chest he's going to continue to get top minutes, and it's going to cost us down the stretch.

I would love to be served some crow on this take if he can turn things around.