Zdeno Chara pondered his future, talked to his family, and decided a blast from his past was the right choice for where to play a 24th NHL season.
Chara agreed to terms with the New York Islanders on a one-year deal Saturday, returning 25 years later to the organization that drafted him, to chase the Stanley Cup one more time at age 44.
“I had some options, opportunities to look at,” Chara said by phone. “When I met with (GM) Lou (Lamoriello) and talked about the team and where they’re going, the direction that they want to go, it hit me right away that this was a great option for me.
Zdeno Chara who is he?
“[Lou] didn’t say this, but I think the direction of the team and what he wants to accomplish — it’s why I would like to be a part of it.”
Chara said Lamoriello met with him at his home in Boston on Saturday morning. The Islanders announced Chara’s signing later that day after their 3-2 win against the Penguins in Pittsburgh.
He will report to training camp, which begins Sept. 13 at Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow, New York (the Islanders’ official practice facility). The team does not have a game scheduled before its Sept. 18 home opener against the Avalanche at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
“I’m going to be very excited,” Chara said. “It’s something that I’ve been looking forward to and it’s a new challenge for me.”
This will be Chara’s third time wearing an Islanders uniform (he played one game in the 1995-96 season and 19 games in 2008-09). The Bruins’ captain from 2006 to ’08, Chara said joining the Islanders is a chance for him to be a mentor.
“There’s a lot of young talent and I think that’s why I’m coming to this team,” he said. “A first-class organization with a Stanley Cup background being so close, the last stretch of my career, I felt it’s a great option for me.”
Contracts and seson play
Chara was not offered a contract from the Bruins at the end of last season. He contemplated retirement but said he still feels he can compete and contribute to a team at a high level.
“The older you get, the more experience you have, the harder it is to make that decision,” he said. “I feel like I’m in great shape and I still love the game and love to compete, so when this opportunity came up, I was very excited.”
Chara will be in a familiar situation in his debut season with the Islanders; in 1991-92 he won the rookie of the year award with the team.
“I’m excited for this new chapter of my career, but I also love to look back at where I came from and what kind of route it took me to get here,” he said. “It’s something that brings a smile to my face.”
Boston fans and Chara
Chara is most remembered by Boston fans for the hard-nosed style of play that made him one of the most feared players in the League. He said he wants to continue being an intimidating presence on the ice.
“For me it’s about trying to be well-prepared for every game, doing what you can to be at your best,” he said. “I definitely don’t want to lose that physical aspect of the game. With the speed, I think it’s something that you don’t want to lose as you get older.”
The Bruins will open their season against the Capitals at TD Garden on Oct. 3 (7 p.m. ET; NBCSN).
Chara said he’s excited about what the Bruins will do this season. They made the Stanley Cup Final last year, losing to the St. Louis Blues in seven games, and lost veteran forwards Rick Nash (signed with the Blue Jackets) and Brian Gionta (unsigned), but added defenseman John Moore (signed with the Avalanche), forwards Joakim Nordstrom (trade acquisition from Hurricanes
