An unpredictable NHL year got even wilder with Boston Bruins legend and unrestricted free agent Zdeno Chara signing a one-year, $795,000 contract with the Washington Capitals.
First reported by The Hockey News’ Ken Campbell, Chara, who spent the last 14 years in Boston, confirmed the move on his Instagram.
“I want to first of all thank the passionate and loyal Bruins fans, who shared the ups and downs of each season over the past 14 years,” Chara wrote.
After being unable to reach a deal with Boston, the stalwart veteran, who, at 43, is the oldest player in the league, will start his 23rd year in the NHL with the Capitals. Chara was clear to note that the decision to move on came from the Bruins.
“Recently, The Boston Bruins have informed me that they plan to move forward with their many younger and talented players and I respect their decision. Unfortunately, my time as the proud Captain of the Bruins has come to an end,” Chara wrote.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CJb3MFaBB8A/
Chara has played 1,023 games with Boston since 2006. He had 148 goals and 333 assists and led the Bruins to three Stanley Cup Finals, winning a championship in 2011.
In DC, the veteran defenseman will join a solid blue line that includes John Carlson, Dmitry Orlov, Brenden Dillon, Justin Schultz, Michael Kempny, Nick Jensen and Trevor van Riemsdyk.
“We are extremely pleased to have Zdeno join the Capitals organization,” Capitals GM Brian MacLellan said in a statement. “We feel his experience and leadership will strengthen our blueline and our team.”
Chara leaving Boston is the end of an era, and NHL fans processed the news with mixed emotions.
the prophecy has been fulfilled pic.twitter.com/91cZZ5mw0h
— G.T.P. (@peterhassett) December 30, 2020
https://twitter.com/_TyAnderson/status/1344383334407933962
If this is how the Zdeno Chara era ended in Boston — in an empty Scotiabank Arena back in August — that's a damn shame for all involved. pic.twitter.com/ayfeA759zM
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) December 30, 2020
Confident it's going to be painfully obvious quickly how important an old and slow Chara was on the PK and in taking endless defensive zone faceoffs against the elite of the elite. Best of luck to the throngs that complained about him incessantly for years.
— Bruins Stats (@bruins_stats) December 30, 2020
REMEMBER 2018 WHEN TOM BRADY, ZDENO CHARA, MOOKIE BETTS, TOREY KRUG, AND ROB GRONKOWSKI ALL STILL PLAYED HERE? THAT WAS FUN. WISH THERE WAS A WAY TO KNOW YOU WERE IN THE GOOD OLD DAYS BEFORE YOU ACTUALLY LEFT THEM.
— brianna pirre (@bsp_13) December 30, 2020
chara arriving at training camp pic.twitter.com/l3MyViJE4L
— new year new noah🎄 (@capsboybebop) December 30, 2020
Bruins fans when Zdeno Chara signs with the Capitals pic.twitter.com/wWHi9wQZHG
— Jimmy Callaghan (@JimmyCallaghann) December 30, 2020
As with all things, it’s sometimes best to let Doc Emrick take over. Here he is talking about Chara’s legacy after the Bruins loss to Tampa Bay in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
“The humanity this guy has, over his span of time in Boston, he’s reached out to oppressed groups, he’s made donations of time and food and clothing as a lot of guys do, but if he were coming to your home for dinner tomorrow night, he’d want to talk about you and your family and not himself. He’s a good soul and..a gallant player.”
“I hope you don’t mind I shift gears from hockey to humanity…” –Doc on Zdeno Chara pic.twitter.com/OtGK67BCZR
— Tucker Boynton (@Tucker_TnL) December 30, 2020