Washington Capitals signs legend Zdeno Chara for a $ 795,000 one-year deal

Washington Capitals hired a defender Zdeno Chara for a $ 795,000 one year deal.

Chara, six-time NHL All-Star and Stanley Cup champion in 2011, is currently the oldest player in the league (43 years) and the tallest player in NHL history (6-9).

Ken Campbell of The Hockey News was the first to report the news.

“We are extremely pleased to have Zdeno joining the Capitals organization,” said Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan in a statement. “We feel that his experience and leadership will strengthen our blue line and our team.”

Chara thanked Bruins fans and said goodbye on his personal Instagram.

Your message is:

My family and I have been fortunate to call the great city of Boston our home for over 14 years. Boston Bruins recently informed me that they plan to move on with their many younger and more talented players and I respect their decision. Unfortunately, my time as the proud captain of the Bruins has ended.

First of all, I would like to thank the passionate and loyal fans of the Bruins, who have shared the ups and downs of each season for the past 14 years. I am proud that we can return the Stanley Cup to Boston and celebrate with all of you in Boston, New England and around the world, it was a moment I will never forget. You have all treated my family and me as your own and I will always be grateful. Thanks.

I would also like to thank all Bruins employees. The coaches, equipment team, medical staff (all doctors, dentists and therapists), public relations and hockey operations, the reception staff, arena staff, security and everyone who helped make the last 14 years so memorable. Although there are many names to mention, know how sincerely I am grateful to each of you.

I want to thank the Jacobs family for the opportunity to represent the Bruins as their captain. I am grateful and proud of everything we have achieved.

To all my teammates over the years in Boston, I am fortunate to have a lifetime of memories that I will never forget. From the highest to the lowest points, we were always a team, we were always present for each other and those bonds and friendships will never be forgotten.

My family and I will always appreciate the strong friendships and connections we have made here. Since the beginning of 2006, we have been embraced by this community and we feel welcome. We will always be grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the community and for the people who have always supported me and my family.

As I begin the next chapter, I want the people of Boston to know how proud I was of being a Bruin and how grateful I am for all the support over the years. “Thank you” does not seem appropriate to express my sincere gratitude. I will always be a Bruin. I will always love Boston.

Thanks.
Zee

Chara has played the last 14 seasons with Boston Bruins and was the team captain. The Capitals money for Chara was probably opened after his fellow legend Henrik Lundqvist was forced to leave the next season due to a heart condition.

During his 22 seasons in the NHL, Chara scored 205 goals and scored 656 points in 1,553 games. Chara won the toughest NHL shooting competition in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2012. He owns the toughest shot ever, with a slap of 108.8 mph in 2012.

Chara is known for his tireless work ethic and endurance. In 2019, Chara played with multiple fractures of the jaw during Games Five, Six and Seven of the championship series.

His euphoric joy raising the Stanley Cup in 2011 is only rivaled in recent memory by Alex Ovechkin in 2018.

Now, here are some fun and physical videos of Chara playing against Capitals.

I think it will fit well!

More of the capitals:

ARLINGTON, Virginia – Washington Capitals has agreed to the terms of the $ 795,000 one-year contract with defender Zdeno Chara, senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today.

Chara, 43, scored 14 points (5g, 9th) in 68 games with the Boston Bruins last season. The Trencin native from Slovakia recorded 3:11 penalties per game to take 11th place in the NHL and helped the Bruins achieve the third best penalty percentage last season (84.3). Chara also finished second among Bruins’ defenders in blocked shots (101).

Prior to joining Washington, Chara was the oldest captain in the league, having used the “C” for the Bruins since his first season in Boston in 2006-07. At 1.80 m tall and weighing 250 pounds, he is also the tallest player who has ever played in the NHL. Chara is entering his 23rd season on the NHL. Among active NHL players, Chara ranks first in plus / minus (+288), time on ice (37,128: 55), penalty minutes (1,956), third in games (1,553) and ninth in kicks (3,271) . He is one of six Bruins to appear in at least 1,000 games (1,023), and his 481 points (148g, 333a) are in third place among Bruins’ defenders in the history of the franchise, behind the Hall of Fame Ray Bourque (1,506) and Bobby Orr (888).

In 1,553 games in his regular career season with the Bruins, New York Islanders and Ottawa Senators – the sixth highest number of games in NHL history among defenders – Chara has 656 points (205g, 451a).

Stanley Cup champion with Boston in 2011, Chara became the second European captain to win the Stanley Cup (Nicklas Lidstrom) and the first in a country behind the Iron Curtain (Czechoslovakia). Chara recorded 70 points (18g, 52a) in 195 playoff games, the ninth highest number of playoff games by a defender in NHL history and the highest number among active defenders.

Throughout his 22-year career in the NHL, Chara has received several individual awards. He received the Norris Trophy as the best NHL defender in 2008-09, after recording his career record with 19 goals and 31 assists in 80 games with Boston. He received the Mark Messier Leadership Award in 2010-11 for his exemplary leadership on and off the ice. He was nominated for the first NHL All-Star team three times (2003-04, 2008-09, 2013-14), the second All-Star team four times (2005-06, 2007-08, 2010-11, 2011 – 12) and is six times NHL All-Star (2002-03, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2010-11, 2011-12). He has also received the Gold Disc as Slovakia’s Player of the Year three times (2008-09, 2010-11, 2011-12).

Chara represented his native country, Slovakia, in international games on several occasions, including three Olympics (2006, 2010, 2014), in which he scored a goal and five assists in 17 games. Most recently, Chara served as an alternate captain for the Europe team at the Hockey World Cup in 2016, scoring two goals in six games to help bring the team to second place for the Canadian team.

Chara was originally selected by the New York Islanders in the third round (56th overall) of the 1996 NHL draft.

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