Player Discussion Zdeno Chara IV

[PatriceBergeronFan]

Regular season means nothing, there is no parade for that. The post season is all that matters and Chara was exposed in the playoffs. Just to add we do not have a Hedman and McDonagh as a top pair to compare to them. Shattenkirk was pretty good for them, wish we got him instead of Backes a few years ago. We had Mac doing double duty in the playoffs digging the puck out of both sides and taking too many cheapshots. Kid was being targeted and there was no answer.

Who besides McAvoy played well on defense?

Citing Chara as the liability when he was in reality one of our defensemen that still handled his role (shut down defense, hardest minutes) relatively well. It simply seems many fans have predetermined Chara's time is up.

 

[KillerMillerTime]

Half of Tampa's defense was worse than Chara and yet they won the Cup.

Half? Hedman, McDonough, Sergachev, Shattenkirk and Cernak were absolutely better than Chara.

 

[4ORRBRUIN]

Half? Hedman, McDonough, Sergachev, Shattenkirk and Cernak were absolutely better than Chara.

If Z signs with Tampa the only player that plays over him is Hedman. Don't kid yourself Z is still a very good shutdown guy and STILL one of the better PKillers in the league.

I would bet 1/2 the league would reach out and try to sign him if they thought he was not going sign with Boston

 

[PlayMakers]

They asked it of both Carlo and McAvoy when they were rookies.

That's true, but those teams weren't contenders. The team Carlo joined had missed the playoffs the year before. The team McAvoy joined had lost in the 1st round. If we're not contenders then I'm all for seeing Lauzon or even Wolff get a shot next to McAvoy. If we are contenders, then I maintain it's a lot to ask.

 

[rocketdan9]

If Z signs with Tampa the only player that plays over him is Hedman. Don't kid yourself Z is still a very good shutdown guy and STILL one of the better PKillers in the league.

I would bet 1/2 the league would reach out and try to sign him if they thought he was not going sign with Boston

Chara got twisted left and right by the speedy and pressure Tampa forwards. All Chara could do is flip it out, and TBL just dumped it in and recycled the onslaught

Chara barely escaped the speedy Leafs and Hurricanes

Chara is good at PK and late game one goal lead protection. But if behind you are in trouble. Because he provides very little offensive generation. Can't even skate out with the puck out

You can't have "specialist" anymore in the NHL. like PP specialst, PK specialist etc. Must be able to play in all different kinds of situation. Even the forwards must be strong two way players

 

[Mantis]

Half? Hedman, McDonough, Sergachev, Shattenkirk and Cernak were absolutely better than Chara.

This is simply not true

 

[PlayMakers]

Would it surprise people to learn that in the most important game of their season, Game 5 against Tampa, Chara was 5th in TOI among defensemen. He only played 24 seconds more than Clifton.

I thought that number might be skewed by PK's but Chara was 5th in EV TOI too. In fact, looking at the whole post season, Chara finished 5th in even-strength TOI per game.

Chara played 18:30 in last year's playoffs (ES TOI/gm).

In the regular season this year, he averaged 17:57.

Then in the most recent playoffs he dropped to just 16:20.

I think the pattern, especially the sharp drop in minutes this post-season, shows (sadly) what they think of his game at this point in his career. They clearly didn't trust him when the pace got faster and the games mattered most.

 

[alko]

Tampa would have no use for an old, slow, soft defenseman

Hujujuj... Soft?

 

[BruinDust]

I still think trying to make judgements on a player based on the RTP tournament is a mistake.

I'm not shocked at all that the league's oldest player had a difficult time getting up to speed. Basically 4 months off, then a make-shift training camp, jumping right into meaningful games (and yes the round robin games were meaningful when compared to your average regular season game, especially if compared to regular season games in Oct/Nov.), then playoff games.

I'm I saying Chara is a top-pairing D-man anymore? No.

Can he still play in this league and contribute in a more specific role lower in the line-up of an NHL team? Absolutely.

Will that be with the Bruins? We shall see. I still say we won't know anything until the format of next season is determined. Personally I very much doubt he's interested in some sort of divisional bubble set-up where he's still separated from his loved ones. That's just my gut feeling.

 

[4ORRBRUIN]

Chara got twisted left and right by the speedy and pressure Tampa forwards. All Chara could do is flip it out, and TBL just dumped it in and recycled the onslaught

Chara barely escaped the speedy Leafs and Hurricanes

Chara is good at PK and late game one goal lead protection. But if behind you are in trouble. Because he provides very little offensive generation. Can't even skate out with the puck out

You can't have "specialist" anymore in the NHL. like PP specialst, PK specialist etc. Must be able to play in all different kinds of situation. Even the forwards must be strong two way players

Yet people wanted to sign Krug? I guess we mine as well get rid of Carlo as well if we are using Tampa's forward as an example of the entire NHL. He looked like a borderline AHL player in that series.

I believe Z will be back and deservedly so. He will be a bargain for what he will be paid for what he brings.

 

[Mick Riddleton]

Would it surprise people to learn that in the most important game of their season, Game 5 against Tampa, Chara was 5th in TOI among defensemen. He only played 24 seconds more than Clifton.

I thought that number might be skewed by PK's but Chara was 5th in EV TOI too. In fact, looking at the whole post season, Chara finished 5th in even-strength TOI per game.

Chara played 18:30 in last year's playoffs (ES TOI/gm).

In the regular season this year, he averaged 17:57.

Then in the most recent playoffs he dropped to just 16:20.

I think the pattern, especially the sharp drop in minutes this post-season, shows (sadly) what they think of his game at this point in his career. They clearly didn't trust him when the pace got faster and the games mattered most.

This is probably why they did not rush to sign him in season like they have done in the past. Neely said big changes are coming - Krug and maybe Chara off the team are the big changes.

People need to look at these ice time stats in the above post. Management dictated his usage, not the fans. It showed his lack of on ice importance to the team in critical situations.

Tampa fans said the easiest series was vs the Bruins. I would rather see him return in a coaching role. He does not need to prove anything anymore, he is an HOF guarantee and had a great career. Time to find the next partner for Mac.

 

[rocketdan9]

This is probably why they did not rush to sign him in season like they have done in the past. Neely said big changes are coming - Krug and maybe Chara off the team are the big changes.

People need to look at these ice time stats in the above post. Management dictated his usage, not the fans. It showed his lack of on ice importance to the team in critical situations.

Tampa fans said the easiest series was vs the Bruins. I would rather see him return in a coaching role. He does not need to prove anything anymore, he is an HOF guarantee and had a great career. Time to find the next partner for Mac.

They just kept picking on him. Dumping it in his side as much as possible.

With heightened pressure all he could do is flip it out or soft bank off the boards. But then Tampa would just do it again and again

Game 5 at the beginning of the 3rd , Cassidy sat Chara for 5 mins to try to stop TBL strategy. Cheap azz team but smart strategy

 

[Dr Hook]

They just kept picking on him. Dumping it in his side as much as possible.

With heightened pressure all he could do is flip it out or soft bank off the boards. But then Tampa would just do it again and again

Game 5 at the beginning of the 3rd , Cassidy sat Chara for 5 mins to try to stop TBL strategy. Cheap azz team but smart strategy

Sports can be a ruthless exploitation of weakness. If he rolls back for another go, that will be the strategy every team uses.

 

[BMC]

Chara got twisted left and right by the speedy and pressure Tampa forwards. All Chara could do is flip it out, and TBL just dumped it in and recycled the onslaught

Chara barely escaped the speedy Leafs and Hurricanes

Chara is good at PK and late game one goal lead protection. But if behind you are in trouble. Because he provides very little offensive generation. Can't even skate out with the puck out

You can't have "specialist" anymore in the NHL. like PP specialst, PK specialist etc. Must be able to play in all different kinds of situation. Even the forwards must be strong two way players

Why not? Torey Krug was a PP specialist for years with the Bruins.

 

[rocketdan9]

Why not? Torey Krug was a PP specialist for years with the Bruins.

Krug is a better defensive player than you give him credit for

He is better than John Michael Liles (few years ago), TJ Barrie and some other Ds that have defensive lapses

 

[rocketdan9]

Sports can be a ruthless exploitation of weakness. If he rolls back for another go, that will be the strategy every team uses.

yup. They do that in basketball also

Kemba Walker (smaller PG) was exploited on the D end quite a bit

 

[Dr Hook]

yup. They do that in basketball also

Kemba Walker (smaller PG) was exploited on the D end quite a bit

The problem for Chara now as I see it is that he can't get the puck very quickly. It would be one thing if he had enough of a step in skating and agility to get there a bit late, but at least get there or at minimum get within range of his reach. He can't even do that anymore. He is still a tough, physical player, but that is also dependent on his ability to get to the puck/carrier. Yes he can still clear the crease with the best of them, but maybe there wouldnt be so much crease clearing if teams couldn't recover the puck on the forecheck so often or pick up his utterly weak clearing attempts (that part of his game has really crapped the bed in the past year, even on the PK where he is allegedly still so good).

 

[DominicT]

Would it surprise people to learn that in the most important game of their season, Game 5 against Tampa, Chara was 5th in TOI among defensemen. He only played 24 seconds more than Clifton.

I thought that number might be skewed by PK's but Chara was 5th in EV TOI too. In fact, looking at the whole post season, Chara finished 5th in even-strength TOI per game.

Chara played 18:30 in last year's playoffs (ES TOI/gm).

In the regular season this year, he averaged 17:57.

Then in the most recent playoffs he dropped to just 16:20.

I think the pattern, especially the sharp drop in minutes this post-season, shows (sadly) what they think of his game at this point in his career. They clearly didn't trust him when the pace got faster and the games mattered most.

That's what happens when you are playing from behind.

 

[BMC]

Krug is a better defensive player than you give him credit for

He is better than John Michael Liles (few years ago), TJ Barrie and some other Ds that have defensive lapses

Not as good as Chara, McAvoy, Carlo or Gryz.

 

[rocketdan9]

Not as good as Chara, McAvoy, Carlo or Gryz.

Against TBL you want to have Krug on D end trying to retrieve the puck or Chara?

 

[Dr Hook]

Against TBL you want to have Krug on D end trying to retrieve the puck or Chara?

Krug was a mediocre defender at best, but I hear what you are saying. Until the last half of last season and the bubble, I would have said Chara, but he can't retrieve a puck any more. If it comes to a slower pace of play I still take Chara over Krug defensively any day of the week even at his age. That said, longer-term the Bruins are better off defensively without either of them back there.

 

[KillerMillerTime]

This is simply not true

Chara couldn't keep up with the pace. The layoff killed
his ability to play at an NHL level. Add in another long layoff and it will be tough for him to deal with.

 

[PB37]

We all love Chara, but I think it's time to move on from him. He's still good at certain things, like being involved physically, clearing space around the net, board battles, leadership. And while the Bruins need a player that can do those things, the rest of the package that Chara brings has been in sharp decline and we saw it at it's worst point this season. He can't help transition the puck. He misses clearing attempts at a frightening rate. He takes forever to get the puck off his stick and find a passing lane. His puck skills have eroded considerably.

There are times/plays where he does good things and you think " the old man can still bring it " but then he'll fumble on a simple puck retrieval, or fail to clear the zone, or take forever to find a passing seam only to panic move laterally and then throw it blindly up the ice to nobody, stuff Prime Chara would never fail to do.

It's hard because of what Chara has meant to this time and city for so long. But I think the negatives of his game sadly outweigh his positives. If he wants to play in the NHL again, I think it's going to have to be with another team.

 

[Bumper]

Chara was hugely effective. think relative plus/minus, zone progress, quality of opponents -- the dude was a beast. he should be limited when exposed, for sure, but the team needs this guy back for another season or two, in a smaller role, overall. he keeps shots far away enough for the goalies to actually react rather than predict -- humbuggers must have no prominent concept of this advantage.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

Sports can be a ruthless exploitation of weakness. If he rolls back for another go, that will be the strategy every team uses.

Do we think teams haven't known Chara is slow for the last decade and only now figured it out?

 

[Bruinaura]

I may be way off base, but I don't think Chara would be interested in a significantly reduced role. If he decides he wants to keep playing, my guess is it'll be because he thinks he can still contribute at a high level. Maybe not #1 level, but not 5-6-7. At his age and point in his career, why would he want to hang around just to get 10-12 minutes a night? He already has a Cup.

Just my $0.02.