Bruins extend Chara - 1 year, $5 million

The Napkin

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right here

press release

BOSTON - Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney announced today, ‪March 28, that the team has signed defenseman Zdeno Chara to a one-year contract extension through the 2018-19 season worth $5 million, plus an additional $1.75 million in performance-based incentives.
 

Salem's Lot

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Good signing. I would've liked to see his $4 million cap hit stay the same but it's worth the extra million to keep him. He can still play and his presence in the room and mentoring to guys like McAvoy and any other young defenseman is extremely valuable.
 

TSC

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Great deal, great value.

I wonder if this means Chara is considering retirement and this is his final deal.

Furthermore - if it is his final deal, does Chucky Bright Lights or Bergeron get the C when he goes?
 

cshea

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Kudos to Chara and also the coaching staff. Chara’s changes to his diet and workout have kept him at the top of his game where he still can handle the other teams top lines on a nightly basis despite his age. I think the staff has also done a good job managing his usage. He hasn’t played significant power play minutes in years, and that has helped keep him fresh and enabled him to be a monster on the penalty kill.
 

Salem's Lot

Andy Moog! Andy God Damn Moog!
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Great deal, great value.

I wonder if this means Chara is considering retirement and this is his final deal.

Furthermore - if it is his final deal, does Chucky Bright Lights or Bergeron get the C when he goes?
It would absolutely go to Bergeron when Chara hangs them up.
 

Ale Xander

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Great deal, great value.

I wonder if this means Chara is considering retirement and this is his final deal.

Furthermore - if it is his final deal, does Chucky Bright Lights or Bergeron get the C when he goes?
Unless the Jacobses get some kind of bonus from the NHL if Chucky breaks Stevie's lengthy record, this is a no-brainer.
 

Eddie Jurak

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Excellent. The guy still brings it, and it is not in any way unusual for elite defensemen to have long and effective careers after their prime years. I’d have been willing to go longer than 1 year, though I am fine with the 1.
 

TheoShmeo

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Tom Brady gets a lot of attention for what he is accomplishing at age 40, and deservedly so, but meanwhile Zdeno plays a much more demanding sport, at least from a cardio perspective, and continues to play at an elite level at an even older age. Make no mistake, this is not a shot at Mr. Brady. Just a note that another elite older player in town is doing something pretty amazing of similar nature without nearly the fanfare. Football is more popular than hockey, Brady is a star who transcends his sport, I get it. Still, Zdeno deserves a lot of love.

Another great move by Don Sweeney, too.
 

Eddie Jurak

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Great deal, great value.

I wonder if this means Chara is considering retirement and this is his final deal.

Furthermore - if it is his final deal, does Chucky Bright Lights or Bergeron get the C when he goes?
I would guess that, no, Chara is not looking at retirement after next season. More likely he is doing them a Tom Brady type solid in not trying to maximize his salary or term in this deal.
 

veritas

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Alex Prewitt has a story about Chara coming out soon and he talked a little bit about it on the PDOcast podcast earlier this week. It's definitely worth checking out. He did mention Chara wants to play until he's 45 if he can
 

Salem's Lot

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I would guess that, no, Chara is not looking at retirement after next season. More likely he is doing them a Tom Brady type solid in not trying to maximize his salary or term in this deal.
And it's the best thing for him to do if he wants to win. McAvoy needs to get paid after next season. Chara being willing to go year to year gives the team the flexibility to get young guys signed, and next March he can see where the team and his body is at and decide if he wants to sign for another year.
 

TFP

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Nothing to dislike about this. They'll need the cap space after next year, and can re-evaluate then. He's a legit top pairing defenseman still, especially since he's off the PP like cshea mentioned. Good work, Sweeney.
 

lexrageorge

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Wasn't Chara was of Guerrero's clients at one point? I thought I heard someone mention that once on the radio (maybe Zolak?).

Anyway, this is a solid move. Even if the 2018-19 Chara is less than this season's Chara, it's still worth the $$$.
 

RIFan

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Wasn't Chara was of Guerrero's clients at one point? I thought I heard someone mention that once on the radio (maybe Zolak?).

Anyway, this is a solid move. Even if the 2018-19 Chara is less than this season's Chara, it's still worth the $$$.
I've never heard of Chara associating with Guerrero. There are similarities in approach due to his plant based diet, but no sustained connection that I'm aware of. I also tend to think of Chara as much more a cerebral guy who does his own research won't go for some of the charlatan stuff that gets associated with AG.

Love the move overall. The one thing I would not be opposed to is a transition of the C over to Bergeron. It's not a knock against Chara or his leadership, just a recognition that this is Bergy's team. A graceful way to do this is to share the C the way Bourque and Middleton did until Nifty retired. Chara gets the home C and Bergy gets it on away games.
 

Maximus

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Great news. Chara has done a great job mentoring Carlo and McAvoy and is still very good on the PK & 5 on 5.
 

nayrbrey

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Great deal for both sides. Love everything about Chara and his game. There was a cool post from Chara this morning on Instagram; a pic of him and Buyck, talking about loyalty and how it affects everything in life.
 
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cshea

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Nothing earth shattering in the press conference. The biggest news was probably on the injury front- McAvoy, Chara, DeBrusk and Backes skated and are “closer than farther” away.As far as the extension goes, Sweeney thinks Z probably would have gotten multiple years ifhe went to July 1.
 

FelixMantilla

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BTW The #NHLBruins would not have gotten Zdeno Chara at 2 years - $10 million. As a 35+contract he was eligible for bonuses on only a one year deal. 2 years would have cost more then $10 million
 

Reardon's Beard

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As to Bergeron getting the C - everything I see, hear, and otherwise observe leads me to think Chara already treats him as the co-captain as does the front office and the rest of the team. Literally everything other than the actual C. It also wouldn't surprise me if Chara has made the offer and Bergeron politely declined making it crystal clear Z is The Man to Wear the C until he retires.

Both guys are all world, and all class.
 

Eddie Jurak

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As to Bergeron getting the C - everything I see, hear, and otherwise observe leads me to think Chara already treats him as the co-captain as does the front office and the rest of the team. Literally everything other than the actual C. It also wouldn't surprise me if Chara has made the offer and Bergeron politely declined making it crystal clear Z is The Man to Wear the C until he retires.

Both guys are all world, and all class.
Yes, no question Bergeron is next in line for the C.