Zdeno Chara: Will there be interest in other teams as Bruins?

[bukwas]

Would he even want to play anywhere else at this stage of his career/life?
If he really loves the game and wants to remain in it maybe pursue coaching or management possibilities. He has gained a wealth of knowledge after 20+ seasons.

 

[Hockeyholic]

One year left ino. Retires a Bruin. My god have they been blessed with elite to generational type defenceman.

Shore to Orr to Park to Bourque to Chara.

 

[crobro]

He’s been living in Prince George BC FOR OVER 20 years.

either the Canucks or Seattle would be the obvious front runners for the last 3 years of chara though still a top 10 Defensmen in the NHL.

if anyone has a solid Chance to play till 52 it’s Chara.

 

[Ghost of Ethan Hunt]

Retire a Senator as it was meant to be

I think you mean NY Islanders, who drafted him & he spent his 1st 4 seasons there.

 

[Man Bear Pig]

I'd still take him on the Leafs but it'd be in a limited capacity. 2nd/3rd pairing PK type.

 

[Clamshells]

I think you mean NY Islanders, who drafted him & he spent his 1st 4 seasons there.

But the Sens are my team and I'm selfish

 

[BostonBob]

One year left ino. Retires a Bruin. My god have they been blessed with elite to generational type defenceman.

Shore to Orr to Park to Bourque to Chara.

Bruin fans are really hoping that one day you will be able to add McAvoy to that list.

 

[alko]

Bruins are in waiting mode. Is there any other real contender?

Fans of Maple Leafs will go to barricades, if their team sign him. Or will be happy about it?

 

[glucker]

Hes old, hes slow, hes washed up. Leafs sign him to a three year overpaid deal that they regret immediately the following season. Then they will try to flip him and give up some more assets in order to dump his contract.

Ah yea, just like they’ve done with Spezza, Simmonds, and Bogosian, amirite?

 

[Richard88]

Would gladly take him in Colorado on a cheap 1 year deal. He can take 65% DZ starts to lock down the 3rd pairing and PK. We could either trade Cole or just carry him as 7D.

 

[Petrus]

Can Chara be a player coach?

Get a job behind the bench and be a mentor to young players. And when injuries happen, he can fill in for a couple games.

Is that type of role even allowed in the NHL?

 

[Oddbob]

Someone will sign him for sure. He is still an elite PKer and he and McAvoy formed a very effective shutdown pairing where Chara just kinda guards the net and McAvoy does everything else. But it really holds McAvoy back in the two way game and the Bruins need more offense at 5 on 5. I wouldn’t be shocked if he came back to Boston for another year if they have the cap space, but if can’t be to play with McAvoy unless the team is protecting a lead in the 3rd.

No offence to Chara at all, but he is no longer elite at anything. Solid sure, not elite.

 

[Oddbob]

Can Chara be a player coach?

Get a job behind the bench and be a mentor to young players. And when injuries happen, he can fill in for a couple games.

Is that type of role even allowed in the NHL?

I have a feeling this isn't allowed anymore, although I don't know if there is an actual rule in place. That said, this doesn't happen anymore.

 

[Hockey Know it all]

What would his team mates say if they say no?

For reference, how did Martin Brodeur's team mates react when the Devils didn't want him back? What was the Chelios situation?

Chelios got traded my dude.

 

[Dr Pepper]

He'd definitely be the tallest coach in NHL history, if the Bruins wanted to use him as a defensive coach or special teams coordinator of sorts.

Personally I think it'd be cool if he followed Jagr's footsteps and took a detour through Dallas, even a brief one.

Guess there's not a whole lot of room on the Stars blueline right now, though.

Klingberg-Lindell
Heiskanen-Oleksiak
Sekera-Pysyk
x Shea, Fedun, Hanley, Johns

A Chara-Oleksiak pairing might be the tallest tandem ever.

 

[Mrfenn92]

I’ll take him in Chicago. Perfect age for our rebuild

 

[mattihp]

Chelios got traded my dude.

Not to Atlanta...

 

[DickSmehlik]

I remember watching Chara play when I was a senior in high school, so about 18 years old. I am now 40 years old.

It continues to amaze me that he can still play this game the way he does.

 

[Alberta_OReilly_Fan]

all my detective skills tell me theres been a conversation that went something like this...

don Sweeney: of course we are bringing you back... but we dont know how much we can afford for your bonus structure until we get debrusk/grezlyck signed and potentially find another upgrade for the team that will give us a chance to win the cup this year

zdeno chara: no worries, i'm glad you are trying to give me some bonuses as a reward for my years of service instead of just giving me a minimum contract... and I definitely want us to have a chance to win if I come back for another year. trust me, it really comes down to the bruins or retirement, so dont worry about me embarrassing the team and jumping ship for an extra 500k at this point in my career

 

[ScaredStreit]

Absolutely there will be. He's still a good bottom pairing choice. He's not going to make many mistakes, he's big enough to play well positionally still, he brings leadership and experience and quite frankly he'd bring more eyeballs to whatever signs him in a time when teams desperately need as many eyeballs as possible.

 

[ScaredStreit]

Retire a Senator as it was meant to be

I think most people think of him as a Bruin. Hell I'm an Islander fan (he was an Islander longer than a Senator) and still think of him as a Bruin.

 

[Brunomics]

I remember watching Chara play when I was a senior in high school, so about 18 years old. I am now 40 years old.

It continues to amaze me that he can still play this game the way he does.

I remember getting this hockey news while I was in the 10th grade.

 

[Boxscore]

Definitely. Why would the Bruins bail on Chara? I think a team like Philly would love to take a shot on him on a short-term deal.

 

[Dellstrom]

Chara would be a fantastic add for so many teams. Phenomenal leader and mentor who can still play in tough defensive situations and totally hold his own. In a bottom 4 role he'd really shine. Cost controlled, year by year... What contender WOULDN'T want him?

Unfortunately with the Bruins if he comes back, he'll be top pairing because no one else can go there. He'll get exposed because he is what he is at this point in his career. A defensive/PK specialist. I love the guy and hope he comes back but it's tough to see him thrown to the wolves at that spot.

 

[Boxscore]

Retire a Senator as it was meant to be

That would be neat actually. But I think Chara would want to do a short deal (1-2 years) with a team who will contend right now. I think Philly, Tampa, Washington, Toronto, Colorado, etc. make sense.