Zdeno Chara is not ready to retire and does not want to play as a substitute, which is why he is no longer the captain of the Boston Bruins.
After 14 seasons with Bruins, Chara, 43, signed a one-year, $ 795,000 contract with Washington Capitals as a free defense agent on Wednesday. He was captain of three Boston teams that went to the Stanley Cup final, winning the championship in 2011. The 1.98m defender was a finalist in the Norris Trophy five times with Bruins, winning in 2008-09.
He played 68 games in the regular season last season and another 13 in the playoffs, but Chara said he did not know he would return to his 23rd NHL season until he started training for the 2020-21 campaign in September.
“We were on that break when we normally started the season. That’s when I decided that if I started skating, getting back to training, I would be quickly honest with myself about whether there was any hesitation in getting back on the ice. Thursday. “For me, that was an indication that I still have a lot of fuel and I still want to do what I do. That’s my motivation: to still prove that I can play.”
The question then was where he would play.
Boston general manager Don Sweeney said the Bruins had “multiple” discussions with Chara during the year and offered him a contract “months ago”. He said Chara asked for time to meditate on the offer and the role that the Bruins wanted to integrate him into the team: a reduced role compared to previous seasons, as Boston wanted to give younger defenders in its system time to assess ice. them.
“We did not make a categorical promise that he would have the same role that he played in his historic career with Boston Bruins,” said Sweeney on Thursday.
Chara said that as conversations with the Bruins progressed, it became clear to him that “I would not be on the starting lineup for the season, not starting a few games and not playing a few consecutive games. I would be more of a reserve player type.”
Chara reiterated that Sweeney “negotiated in good faith”, but that ultimately Chara felt he could still play consistent NHL minutes on another team.
Almost two dozen NHL teams showed an interest in Chara. He said Washington’s curiosity has intensified recently.
“A few days ago, Washington informed us of his interest and I saw this opportunity that I did not want to pass up. It was a good option for me and my family, ”said Chara.
The defender said there were no promises made by the capitals regarding the weather on the ice or the games played. Capitals has about 10 defenders in the game heading for the regular 56-game season.
“There are no specifications. There is no guarantee. I just want to have a chance to compete,” said Chara, who is going through the COVID-19 protocols in the DC area.
While his role on the ice remains unclear, it is obvious what attracted the ice capitals to his new defenseman. Chara is one of the most respected captains of the NHL. After two eliminations in the first round after winning the Stanley Cup, Washington valued the attempt to find ways to motivate its veteran players. After hiring coach Peter Laviolette, the Capitals put Chara in a locker room with captain Alex Ovechkin.
“This is Alex’s team and Peter’s team, and I’m looking forward to helping them as much as I can on and off the ice,” said Chara.
Due to the realignment influenced by the NHL’s COVID-19, Capitals will face Bruins eight times in an intradivision game this season. “It will be a strange feeling, for sure,” said Chara.
He believes that former teammate Patrice Bergeron will succeed him as captain of the Bruins. Chara also acknowledged that he is another in a series of renowned Boston athletes to leave the city in recent years. He said he sought out one of them, former Patriots star Tom Brady, during the process.
“Yes, we are friends,” said Chara. “I definitely see a new opportunity, new challenges. I am extremely motivated and eager to fight to compete.”