As a Caps fan, I was elated when the Caps brought him in and didn't understand where the Bruins fans were coming from at this point a year ago. They loved him to death, but were ready to see the Bruins move on. Now, I sort of get it.
He's still Zdeno Chara, but you're just getting a lot less of it as he enters his mid-40s. Less minutes, less snarl, less intimidation. Great leader, great team guy, great stick, no wheels left. He's aging out relatively gracefully. A smart player, yet he does get burned at times. Chara does a reasonably good job of playing within his limits. There are just a lot more limits today. The walls are closing in on him. Enough metaphors.
The Isles are a great team and they're going to be a handful. Chara gives them a little more of what they already do really well. Yet he's going to fill the role that most #5/6/7 players do on the Isles. Their Cup chances are not materially impacted by this move. It's purely depth.
At this stage, I'd want him as a #7, with spot duty as a #6. That's fine at the salary he's prepared to accept. They'll be fine as long as their blueline is healthy. Yet if he has to play very much #4/#5 minutes due to injuries elsewhere, the cracks definitely show in his game. You'd like your depth guys to be able to shoulder more responsibility for a few games than Chara can really handle today. The cap means you don't get everything, of course. Nice move.
He's still Zdeno Chara, but you're just getting a lot less of it as he enters his mid-40s. Less minutes, less snarl, less intimidation. Great leader, great team guy, great stick, no wheels left. He's aging out relatively gracefully. A smart player, yet he does get burned at times. Chara does a reasonably good job of playing within his limits. There are just a lot more limits today. The walls are closing in on him. Enough metaphors.
The Isles are a great team and they're going to be a handful. Chara gives them a little more of what they already do really well. Yet he's going to fill the role that most #5/6/7 players do on the Isles. Their Cup chances are not materially impacted by this move. It's purely depth.
At this stage, I'd want him as a #7, with spot duty as a #6. That's fine at the salary he's prepared to accept. They'll be fine as long as their blueline is healthy. Yet if he has to play very much #4/#5 minutes due to injuries elsewhere, the cracks definitely show in his game. You'd like your depth guys to be able to shoulder more responsibility for a few games than Chara can really handle today. The cap means you don't get everything, of course. Nice move.
