Long time Bruins captain Zdeno Chara who had been with the Bruins since 2006 signed a one year deal near league minimum to play with the Washington Capitals, shocking not just Bruins fans but the entire hockey world. The 43 year old 6'9" defense-man who is by far the oldest player in the league obviously is not the same player he was in his prime but still was serviceable to play on the top pair with former fellow teammate Charlie McAvoy and be a big factor on the penalty kill. He will be remembered in Boston for being a great player and leader on the ice, but also a great role model and leader for Boston off the ice. In a year where it seemed like Boston was losing all of its great players and legends, this was just another painful one for Boston sports.
The departure of Chara leaves a huge gap to fill on the left side, which already was effected by the loss of Krug. The Bruins cup window is really starting to shrink and with them being in a win now mode, there is little time to experiment with unproven young guys, making this very risky. For a list of possible defensive pairing scenarios as we head into next season, check out the article on our website previously posted by @bruinsig. The Bruins captain despite his age played an average of 21 minutes and was on the ice for over 60 percent of the penalty kill a night, and that workload is going to be hard to replace. Hopefully they have the guys to successfully take over that role.
Don Sweeney has been taking some heat from fans all across Boston for letting their beloved captain walk in free agency for virtually nothing, and they have every right to be upset. After all Chara has done for the team, from giving us a chance when he signed here in 2006, to winning a Stanley Cup and helping us get to 2 others. He was a great role model in the locker room and as a figure in Boston. He sacrificed his body for this team and franchise. Had the best work ethic that some teammates said they had never seen before. Chara said via Instagram that he had to move on because the role he was offered was a 7th defense-man, so of course he knew his time was up here. It is just mind boggling how you move on from your 14 year captain like that, and I understand and would support Chara playing less minutes every night on the 3rd pair, but that is not even what he was offered. This is a terrible look for Sweeney and management as they may lose respect from veterans on the team and around the league for the decision they made and how they treated it.
For the last several years including the Stanley Cup winning season in 2011 and deep run in 2019, the team's main identity was how physicals they were. They controlled the puck and momentum and were so good at it they earned the famous nickname "Big Bad Bruins". Chara was the strongest player on the team and especially last season he would often set the tone with big hits or fights. Now, with Chara leaving it is unknown how physical the team would be, and that worries me seeing that has been their identity for so many years and has led to so much success. Hopefully younger guys stepping up this year like forward Trent Frederic can add some of that energy or bigger and stronger defense-man like Brandon Carlo and Jeremy Lauzon.
Back in August, seeing older veterans like Chara lose in an empty arena in the 2nd round to Tampa Bay was awful. They know and we know that is one less opportunity of the few remaining to get another Stanley Cup. It is sad as a fan to realize that moment of him leaving an empty arena in defeat was his last moment as a Bruin. He was a legend in Boston and will always be, so for fans to see him go out like that and on top of that not finish his career in Boston is just a shame. His number will someday be raised up into the rafters in the Garden.
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