Player Discussion Zdeno Chara - III

[talkinaway]

Amazing deal - the man is a beast. Yes, he may be slowing down, and he's not eating almost 30 minutes per game like he was 5 years ago. (Think about that: in the 2013-4 season, his median TOI was 24.5 minutes, and he had 5 games over 29 minutes, including a 31+ minute performance!) His average is now around 20 minutes...which is still phenomenal!

Cap hit's great. If anyone thinks it's too much...it's just over half a Backes.

And I can't say what he does off the ice for "the room", but that's clearly important, too, since you hear about it so much from his teammates.

Maybe this is the last contract? I don't know. He's figured out how to cheat father time. More veggies for everyone!

 

[Over the volcano]

So the cap hit will be 3.5. Not sure if I think it's as friendly as some folks do.

Right? I mean that’s Ryan Spooner type money we’re talking about.

 

[Alicat]

Great tidbit on how Z considers Bergy his Co-Captain.

 

[Mainehockey33]

Great tidbit on how Z considers Bergy his Co-Captain.

Chára is probably one of the most respected captains and mentors playing in the NHL. I think it’s hilarious when I hear the C should be given to Bergeron when Chára is still on the team.

 

[TwineTickler]

Great tidbit on how Z considers Bergy his Co-Captain.

I think it would be pretty cool for him to hand Bergeron the C next year in a Bourque/Espo type way.... Z steps down to the A, Bergy gets the C... a passing of the torch. Won't happen, but will be cool... and Bergy absolutely is the co-captain, but can't wait to physically see that C on his sweater

 

[GarbageGoal]

Considering there are defenseman who get 2 million just for showing up to the building, this is a great deal.

 

[Alicat]

I think it would be pretty cool for him to hand Bergeron the C next year in a Bourque/Espo type way.... Z steps down to the A, Bergy gets the C... a passing of the torch. Won't happen, but will be cool... and Bergy absolutely is the co-captain, but can't wait to physically see that C on his sweater

Too bad they can’t rotate the C and A like they do the 3rd A

 

[RussellmaniaKW]

we keep Chara, who is 14th in the NHL in shorthanded TOI per game, for another year and actually gain cap space and people are complaining.

 

[Tbrady12]

Great deal for Chara to come back again. Good on DS for working this out.

 

[Estlin]

Literally no reason for this response...

We are all allowed to have opinions Ms. Alicat.

Seriously. I don’t get the snark on her part.

 

[Mainehockey33]

we keep Chara, who is 14th in the NHL in shorthanded TOI per game, for another year and actually gain cap space and people are complaining.

It could work out great if Vaak or another young D is ready for bigger minutes in the NHL next year. You have Chára playing big PK minutes and still leading the team, Grizz can play solid minutes and someone like Vaak paired with Mcavoy.

 

[Estlin]

It could work out great if Vaak or another young D is ready for bigger minutes in the NHL next year. You have Chára playing big PK minutes and still leading the team, Grizz can play solid minutes and someone like Vaak paired with Mcavoy.

If Vaak or Lauzon becomes a permanent fixture in Boston next season, then another LHD will be moved to make room. Whom will that be?

 

[BAD BOY]

Great deal for Z. He brings leadership and can show some of the young players the way of being a Bruin. ... 3.5 is peanuts for one year. It works for him and the team. Good move on both parts for finding an agreement.

 

[Mainehockey33]

If Vaak or Lauzon becomes a permanent fixture in Boston next season, then another LHD will be moved to make room. Whom will that be?

Krug. I think it would make Boston better defensively if they move on from Krug. Krug also looks like the highest paid defenseman on the team next year so moving him frees up room to sign Mcavoy and Carlo. Don’t sleep on Zboril either, he’s having a good season.

I want Vaak paired with Mcavoy soon, they could be a great pair for years like Keith-Seabrook.

 

[Fossy21]

Was really hoping this would be the final year. Was looking forward to having a fully mobile Dcore... but at least the cap hit is small.

Third in the league in GA and GA/GP and fourth in goal differential. Well ahead of the two teams that have better GA numbers in goals scored (20 more than Isles, 40 more than Stars).

Could be worse.

 

[JRull86]

we keep Chara, who is 14th in the NHL in shorthanded TOI per game, for another year and actually gain cap space and people are complaining.

It's called (HF) Bruins

 

[RussellmaniaKW]

If Vaak or Lauzon becomes a permanent fixture in Boston next season, then another LHD will be moved to make room. Whom will that be?

Moore obviously. or maybe Krug if they can't work out a deal.

 

[BAD BOY]

Too bad they can’t rotate the C and A like they do the 3rd A

I think it would be pretty cool for him to hand Bergeron the C next year in a Bourque/Espo type way.... Z steps down to the A, Bergy gets the C... a passing of the torch. Won't happen, but will be cool... and Bergy absolutely is the co-captain, but can't wait to physically see that C on his sweater

I’m sure that’s the least of things on Patrice Bergeron’s mind . I think adding another Stanley Cup Ring on his other finger is more important.

 

[Dr Hook]

If Vaak or Lauzon becomes a permanent fixture in Boston next season, then another LHD will be moved to make room. Whom will that be?

That is the core of why I don't like the re-up. It isn't that Chara is a terrible player. It's that no matter how much you love the guy, he is not a long-term option any more. He is still a useful player and good in some situations. He is bad in others. Beyond that, what is the cost of keeping him on year after year? Possibly losing a player that is a long-term solution on D. But hey, let's not let that get in the way of sentimentality. Sooner or later he is going to hang them up and then we might wish we had Matt Grizz, Jeremy Lauzon, JZ, Krug, whoever it is that we might lose because of cap limitations, or more likely, playing time not being there.

 

[Fossy21]

That is the core of why I don't like the re-up. It isn't that Chara is a terrible player. It's that no matter how much you love the guy, he is not a long-term option any more. He is still a useful player and good in some situations. He is bad in others. Beyond that, what is the cost of keeping him on year after year? Possibly losing a player that is a long-term solution on D. But hey, let's not let that get in the way of sentimentality. Sooner or later he is going to hang them up and then we might wish we had Matt Grizz, Jeremy Lauzon, JZ, Krug, whoever it is that we might lose because of cap limitations, or more likely, playing time not being there.

Chara isn't pushing Krug away, lol. This helps Krug's case for staying if anything, precisely by not forcing some of the guys you named into bigger roles than they have earned, giving them a quicker and bigger payday which would drive Krug away.

 

[Dr Hook]

It's called (HF) Bruins

Who is complaining here? What is more HF Bruins is piling on a reasonable opinion that you don't happen to share and dismissing it as nutty. That's called (HF) Bruins.

 

[aguineapig]

Stoopid Sinden din't he no Mikill Del Zoto is free agint dis summah

 

[Mainehockey33]

That is the core of why I don't like the re-up. It isn't that Chara is a terrible player. It's that no matter how much you love the guy, he is not a long-term option any more. He is still a useful player and good in some situations. He is bad in others. Beyond that, what is the cost of keeping him on year after year? Possibly losing a player that is a long-term solution on D. But hey, let's not let that get in the way of sentimentality. Sooner or later he is going to hang them up and then we might wish we had Matt Grizz, Jeremy Lauzon, JZ, Krug, whoever it is that we might lose because of cap limitations, or more likely, playing time not being there.

I see it as a great opportunity to bring in Vaak next year who is a long term solution and have Chara mentor him like he did with Carlo and Mcavoy. Look at the good it did those guys. I guess I just don’t see Krug as a long term solution. I want Chara showing the ropes to as many young defenseman as he can before hanging them up. Plus he’s still great on the PK.

 

[Dr Hook]

Chara isn't pushing Krug away, lol. This helps Krug's case for staying if anything, precisely by not forcing some of the guys you named into bigger roles than they have earned, giving them a quicker and bigger payday which would drive Krug away.

LOL back at you. You might be right- that is certainly one way to view it. Then again, who knows who could earn a role if the playing time is not there. The larger point is that something is going to have to give on the left side of the defense if Chara keeps re-upping year after year. But whatever, he is coming back and I will cheer for him and the Bruins and hope that it was a good decision to keep him on.

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

A very deserved contract. All things considered, he’s been great this year. Props to him and Bruce for seemingly finding the exact situations and TOI where Z can thrive at his age.