Player Discussion Zdeno Chara

[Gee Wally]

The Boston Bruins practiced at the TD Garden on Friday rather than their state-of-the-art Warrior Ice Arena in Brighton. The reason? Team picture day.

After the players posed for their annual photo, the TD Garden bull gang had the task of clearing the staging off the playing surface. That task became easier with the help of a 6-foot-9, 250-pound bulldozer.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/b...ra-provided/KPxkmLowQNOjJmWrTdZpFP/story.html

 

[ODAAT]

The Boston Bruins practiced at the TD Garden on Friday rather than their state-of-the-art Warrior Ice Arena in Brighton. The reason? Team picture day.

After the players posed for their annual photo, the TD Garden bull gang had the task of clearing the staging off the playing surface. That task became easier with the help of a 6-foot-9, 250-pound bulldozer.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/b...ra-provided/KPxkmLowQNOjJmWrTdZpFP/story.html

I have a couch I need removed from my apartment, willing to wait until the end of the season for him to come by to move it

 

[tremha]

I don't know why you are bolding those points, all they say is a good defenseman plays defense, it says nothing about hitting. My point is you don't need to hit to be effective defensively.

Do you want more examples? From the other night, January 17th, DEFENSIVE DEFENSEMAN Niklas Hjalmarsson and Brent Seabrook both had 0 hits. Duncan Keith as well. Giardano, Pietrangelo, Bouwmeester and Brodie also with no hits. We wish Krug could be on these guys levels defensively, yet here are these guys throwing no hits in a game.

Are you going to tell me those guys aren't good defensively because they don't hit?

If you actually watched the game Krug played pretty great defensively breaking up numerous plays and getting praise from the NBC announcers.

Either way this is a Chara thread and this is way off topic. Hitting doesn't equal better defense, end of story.

often it ends up taking you out of the play and exposing your partner.

 

[Ivo]

Is it just me or do others also see that Chara has been playing much better this season than he'd played the previous two? Quite impressive how he has turned the clock back at his age. Or is he just more healthy this year?

Edit: In the 24 games under Cassidy, he has 6 goals, 13 points and is +19, playing 23 minutes per game on average.

 

[13Hockey]

Even Strength/Shorthanded Points Year by Year with the Bruins

06-07: 17 Points
07-08 : 26 Points
08-09: 22 Points
09-10: 28 Points
10-11: 29 Points
11-12: 32 Points
12-13: 15 Points (Lockout Yr 26 Point Pace)
13-14: 25 Points
14-15: 15 Points
15-16: 27 Points
16-17: 26 Points

Even Strength/Shorthand Goals year by year with the Bruins

06-07: 2
07-08: 8
08-09: 8
09-10: 3
10-11: 6
11-12: 4
12-13: 4 (Lockout Year 7 Goal Pace)
13-14: 7
14-15: 4
15-16: 8
16-17: 9

Chara 10th in the NHL this season among Defenceman in Even/Shorthanded Goals
Chara 32nd in the NHL this season among Defenceman in Even/Shorthanded Points
Chara 13th in the NHL this season among Defenceman in +/-

Chara's Even Strength production is right on par with what he has done his whole career in Boston his points are just look down due to NO PP time this year basically

Chara is having a Monster season on D and on Offense putting up points basically still playing like a #1 D

 

[Ivo]

Even Strength/Shorthanded Points Year by Year with the Bruins

06-07: 17 Points
07-08 : 26 Points
08-09: 22 Points
09-10: 28 Points
10-11: 29 Points
11-12: 32 Points
12-13: 15 Points (Lockout Yr 26 Point Pace)
13-14: 25 Points
14-15: 15 Points
15-16: 27 Points
16-17: 26 Points

Even Strength/Shorthand Goals year by year with the Bruins

06-07: 2
07-08: 8
08-09: 8
09-10: 3
10-11: 6
11-12: 4
12-13: 4 (Lockout Year 7 Goal Pace)
13-14: 7
14-15: 4
15-16: 8
16-17: 9

Chara 10th in the NHL this season among Defenceman in Even/Shorthanded Goals
Chara 32nd in the NHL this season among Defenceman in Even/Shorthanded Points
Chara 13th in the NHL this season among Defenceman in +/-

Chara's Even Strength production is right on par with what he has done his whole career in Boston his points are just look down due to NO PP time this year basically

Chara is having a Monster season on D and on Offense putting up points basically still playing like a #1 D

Great post. In any case, it seems like taking him off the powerplay has been a good move. His minutes are better used in other situations. But he is clearly still a no.1 Dman in this league, which is very impressive.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

Is it just me or do others also see that Chara has been playing much better this season than he'd played the previous two? Quite impressive how he has turned the clock back at his age. Or is he just more healthy this year?

Edit: In the 24 games under Cassidy, he has 6 goals, 13 points and is +19, playing 23 minutes per game on average.

He's definitely back to his normal play. I still call him a #1 although the popular standard (especially among random other, non-Bruins fans) is that Chara is some awful #4-6 defenseman now. An asinine evaluation.

 

[BruinDust]

He's definitely back to his normal play. I still call him a #1 although the popular standard (especially among random other, non-Bruins fans) is that Chara is some awful #4-6 defenseman now. An asinine evaluation.

It's not just non-Bruins fans. Someone posting that Chara is "cooked" or "done" has become a nightly occurance in GDTs.

He went out last summer, dropped some weight, worked on his skating, footspeed and agilty, combined with his role on the PP being drastically reduced, and a partner who he trusts and is comfortable with, and he's reaping the benefits at age 40.

He's still one of the strongest players in the sport. His reach is the same now as it was when he started. His ability to read the play and react are still very good. He may not be an elite No.1 guy among the Norris conversations anymore (even though you could argue he should be), but at 23+ minutes a night, he's still the No.1 D-man on a playoff team, fact not opinion.

 

[Krupp]

Going purely by the 'eye' last year, Chara looked bad. He looked slow and wobbly on his skates. I haven't had the opportunity to watch as many games this year as I did last year, but this year I haven't seen him fumbling around nearly as much. He's playing more like he did when he was 36, and it's great to see.

He won't win the Norris again, but as long as he can keep this kind of play up, I'm hopeful the team can keep him for awhile longer and give the kids time to develop more, and a mentor and captain who can provide a great example to them on the ice.

I'm gonna miss this big fella when he calls it quits one day. Hopefully not for another year or two.

 

[RedeyeRocketeer]

I want him to retire in our colors. Has to.

 

[Hamilton Brian]

I'd like him to retire with us as well, and it would be amazing for that retirement to be preceded by another Cup victory. I know, I know...putting the cart ahead of the horse, if wishes were horses, etc.

I have to stay away from the main board. It's a cess-pool of Bruins hate...from Marchand being a POS and should be eliminated from the league to Chara being a washed-up has-been.

 

[mjhfb]

Not sure if due to better ice-time management but he seems like he's actually moving his feet more lately. Also he has reintroduced his slapshot, which for some reason (fatigue?) he rarely used earlier.

 

[ODAAT]

Not sure if due to better ice-time management but he seems like he's actually moving his feet more lately. Also he has reintroduced his slapshot, which for some reason (fatigue?) he rarely used earlier.

I actually prefer him not relying so much on the slap shot, yes, worked last night and has often in the past but these days, I`d rather see more D-men using a wrist/snap shot, control it better with all the collapsing teams are doing now

 

[ODAAT]

I want him to retire in our colors. Has to.

I`m convinced you`ll get your wish (mine too). I don`t see him being the kind of guy who would uproot his very young family, he`s got a ring, understanding I`m sure he`d love another but not at the cost of leaving a city where it appears he and his family love

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

He's back to around 2014 level this year.

I think he's honestly had a tough handful of games to close out the season, but his performance this year as a whole has had me eat more crow than maybe I ever have on this board. Thought he was completely done after last season.

Helps that he got a legitimate #2 next to him as well.

 

[Jean_Jacket41]

Give this guy 1y extension as long as he wants to play. Even if only as a #6 PK specialist and top mentor when he'll be 53y.

We are lucky to have this guy since 2006.

 

[ODAAT]

Give this guy 1y extension as long as he wants to play. Even if only as a #6 PK specialist and top mentor when he'll be 53y.

We are lucky to have this guy since 2006.

Agreed, I don`t see him being a guy who`d be unreasonable when it comes to ice time as he gets even older. Honestly, I think we`ll see at least one more rookie on the back end next year (McAvoy) and maybe another and listening to veteran players talk around the league about having kids in the lineup they seem to invigorate the vets with their enthusiasm, I think Z absolutely loves playing the role of mentor

 

[GoBs]

Is it just me or do others also see that Chara has been playing much better this season than he'd played the previous two? Quite impressive how he has turned the clock back at his age. Or is he just more healthy this year?

Edit: In the 24 games under Cassidy, he has 6 goals, 13 points and is +19, playing 23 minutes per game on average.

Agree
Was wondering if he had his ice time cut a bit

 

[BruinDust]

Lot's of props being thrown around (deserved props mind you) how about some for the Captain.

40-years young, No.1 D-man on a playoff team, logged more ice than any player from either team with over 25 minutes tonight.

One a night when we saw the debut of McAvoy and got a much clearer look at the future of the Bruins D-corps with Krug, Carlo and now Charlie as the likely anchors, who knows how much longer those 3 will be able to play alongside Chara.

But by the looks of things, it might be longer than almost everyone anticipated. Baring an unfortunate injury, I'd be surprised if Chara is done after next season unless his play completely drops off. He's still a heck of a player and a force in his own end even at 40.

 

[bruins repeat time]

Honestly I thought he struggled to start the game but gave us the great 3rd period we needed

 

[JCRO]

Honestly I thought he struggled to start the game but gave us the great 3rd period we needed

Oh you're absolutely right. He had a rough two periods then found some stability at the end

 

[DKH]

Cassidy will return the favor for what Chara has done the last 10 years and stick him with
McAvoy

Here's your D next year

Chara-McAvoy
Krug-Carlo
McQuaid-Killer
O'Gara

McAvoy & Carlo combined may actually be younger than Chara

He's 40 and they total 39 but the combined extra days may beat him

 

[RedeyeRocketeer]

Cassidy will return the favor for what Chara has done the last 10 years and stick him with
McAvoy

Here's your D next year

Chara-McAvoy
Krug-Carlo
McQuaid-Killer
O'Gara

McAvoy & Carlo combined may actually be younger than Chara

He's 40 and they total 39 but the combined extra days may beat him

I'm so so curious if we're headed towards something like

Carlo-McAvoy
Krug-Lauzon
Chara-Killer

When the Chara contract is up. Like a 1-2 year ride into the sunset on the 3rd scenario. I hope so anyway.

 

[BruinDust]

Oh you're absolutely right. He had a rough two periods then found some stability at the end

Both of your absolutely wrong.

But considering we get a "Chara is cooked" or a "Chara is done" comment in pretty much every GDT, I'm not surprised.

 

[TP]

New thread

http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showthread.php?t=2216501