Chara signs with Capitals

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SoSH's Doug Neidermeyer
SoSH Member
Oct 25, 2007
12,280
Between here and everywhere.
Figure this is big enough for its own thread.

The Bruins Captain since 2006 has signed with the Washington Capitals.

Thanks for 2011. Thanks for being part of the stabilization of the franchise. Thanks for everything, Big Z.

 

Ale Xander

Hamilton
SoSH Member
Oct 31, 2013
72,440
Bruins get better long-term.

Time for Lauzon and others to develop.

Thanks for 2011, Zdeno.
 

cshea

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Nov 15, 2006
36,047
306, row 14
It's not necessarily a bad thing but this sucks. I love the big guy.

Front office is going to get raked over the coals.
 

IdiotKicker

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Nov 21, 2005
10,785
Somerville, MA
Man, that one hurts. Between he, Brady, and Ortiz, they stabilized and brought some true greatness to Boston sports starting in the early 2000s. Now they’re all checking out of town within a couple years of each other. There’s just a lot of soul moving on at this point, and I’m sure it’s going to be hard to replace.
 

cornwalls@6

Less observant than others
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Apr 23, 2010
6,247
from the wilds of western ma
Emotional gut punch. Loved what he brought here, and 2011 will always be one of my very favorite champions. Well past his best hockey, so maybe not a bad thing going forward. Thanks for everything Z.
 

NJ_Sox_Fan

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Jan 2, 2006
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NJ
Maybe not the most popular opinion, but I would rather he did not play on the Bruins in 2021 and beyond. He was great, and I love the guy, but he just looks so slow every time out.
 

Kenny F'ing Powers

posts way less than 18% useful shit
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Nov 17, 2010
14,426
Maybe not the most popular opinion, but I would rather he did not play on the Bruins in 2021 and beyond. He was great, and I love the guy, but he just looks so slow every time out.
I was really hoping that limited ice time would benefit him on the ice for another year or two. With the Bruins.

Fuck you 2020. Not mad at the Bruins or Big Z. Just mad.
 

LogansDad

Member
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Nov 15, 2006
29,055
Alamogordo
Wow, this hurts a lot. I agree he was on the tail end, but the Bruins are going to have to play against him 8 times in this short season, too, which won't make it easier.

Fuck you, 2020.
 

PedroSpecialK

Comes at you like a tornado of hair and the NHL sa
SoSH Member
Dec 12, 2004
27,164
Cambridge, MA
Sad to see him go, glad the organization is keeping the future in mind. If the Bruins don't make it out of the division come playoff time, get this guy another Cup.
 

Haunted

The Man in the Box
SoSH Member
Aug 23, 2006
6,196
I hate this. I’m just being emotional now. I hate this.

Sanity will come by soon, but in the mean time god damn it I hate this.
 

Ferm Sheller

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Mar 5, 2007
20,404
Sort of felt this was coming and agree it's probably for the best, but it doesn't make it any easier. Chara, Neely, Bourque, and Bergy are my Mount Rushmore of Bruins of my fandom (starting following them in 1978).

If there are any games I'm unable to watch for some reason, I hope that they're ones against the Caps.
 

54thMA

Member
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Aug 15, 2012
10,154
Westwood MA
Man you know how to get this room dusty
Being a sports fan is an incredible experience, the more passionate you are vs the casual fans, the better the experience is when your team wins, but it's a lot worse when they lose.

That was what I thought would be THE moment in that series, the team would rally around that moment and smoke the Blues, but it was not meant to be.

Eventually losing that series ranks right up there with the 2008 Super Bowl loss that ruined the perfect season and the 1986 WS loss to the Mets with two outs, two strikes and nobody on base.

For me, that's how they rank in order as far as the three worst all time worst Boston sports moments.

And it's not even close.

Thanks for everything Z, you were the heart and soul of this team the moment you first stepped on the ice wearing the black and gold.

I mean honest to Christ, can this year get any worse..............so they showed him the door over 800K?

Sorry, but regardless of his performance level, organizationally, that's a bad look.
 
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Ferm Sheller

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Mar 5, 2007
20,404
.
I mean honest to Christ, can this year get any worse..............so they showed him the door over 800K?

Sorry, but regardless of his performance level, organizationally, that's a bad look.
It's not the money, it's the minutes that will now go to younger players.
 

Ferm Sheller

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Mar 5, 2007
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Also, I don't think that this is Tom Brady in Tampa Bay, I think it's Dewey Evans in Baltimore.
 

54thMA

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It's not the money, it's the minutes that will now go to younger players.
Understood; I'm not being rational, I'm just mad....................I know this isn't a movie, but he should have went out as a Bruin, this has Pedro as a Phillie, Mays as a Met, Montana as a Chef and Brady as a Buccaneer all over it.

The landscape of Boston sports does not look very promising going forward and to lose Brady and Z in the same year,.

Again, I know there's no place for sentimentality in sports as it's a business, but...........................
 
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ngruz25

Bibby
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Sep 20, 2005
18,972
Pittsburgh, PA
It's not the money, it's the minutes that will now go to younger players.
Yeah, certainly Sweeney and company know that Urho, Lauzon, maybe Zboril need minutes. I just worry that an injury and a COVID diagnosis later and Tommy Cross is being raised from the dead to play LD.
 

Boston Brawler

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Jan 17, 2011
9,757
It sucks. I agree with people saying it may be for the best talent wise. Hopefully his leadership and presence can be replaced.
 

Salem's Lot

Andy Moog! Andy God Damn Moog!
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
14,463
Gallows Hill
On one hand I love his leadership on and off the ice. On the other hand, it’s time to see if the kids can play. Best of luck and I look forward to the number retirement ceremony. But it’s the right move for the Bruins, Chara, and Washington. He was never going to agree to a reduced role here. He’ll accept that role and be great at it in Washington.
 

Salem's Lot

Andy Moog! Andy God Damn Moog!
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Jul 15, 2005
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Completely. It's time to move on, and open up the ice to younger blue liners. Of course, this won't stop the social media trolls and talk radio from beating the cheap bruins narrative into the ground over the next few days.
Meanwhile they’ve paid Zdeno Chara $83 million to play hockey here. Not exactly cheap.
 

54thMA

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Aug 15, 2012
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Westwood MA
I just wanted to say that I really appreciate this forum, especially at times like this where reading some of your comments puts this in it's proper perspective.

I'm too emotional right now and you have to take emotion out of situations like this, this is what happens when you wear your sports heart on your sleeve.

My apologies for lashing out, but honestly, just what I needed as the door starts to thankfully and finally close on 2020.
 

Ferm Sheller

Member
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Mar 5, 2007
20,404
Yeah, certainly Sweeney and company know that Urho, Lauzon, maybe Zboril need minutes. I just worry that an injury and a COVID diagnosis later and Tommy Cross is being raised from the dead to play LD.
I was thinking John Moore... :p j/k
 

pedro1918

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Mar 5, 2004
5,139
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Or more apt, Bobby Orr in Chicago.
Trump crap aside, still too soon.

In all seriousness, I am fine with Z moving on. I would think (and hope, for his sake) that Chara will play more games for the Capitals than the 26 Orr played for the Hawks, but probably not a ton more.
 

Bowhemian

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Nov 10, 2015
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Maybe not the most popular opinion, but I would rather he did not play on the Bruins in 2021 and beyond. He was great, and I love the guy, but he just looks so slow every time out.
This is where I am. Sure, I’m bummed he’s gone, but it was time. I figured he would retire.
 

BaseballJones

ivanvamp
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Oct 1, 2015
24,375
Man, that one hurts. Between he, Brady, and Ortiz, they stabilized and brought some true greatness to Boston sports starting in the early 2000s. Now they’re all checking out of town within a couple years of each other. There’s just a lot of soul moving on at this point, and I’m sure it’s going to be hard to replace.
You could say that around 2011 (that time frame anyway), the Boston sports teams were represented by Ortiz, Brady, Pierce, and Chara.

The team will ultimately be better because I think he struggled a lot at the end, but man, he was a great great great Bruin and will be missed.
 

Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat

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Understood; I'm not being rational, I'm just mad....................I know this isn't a movie, but he should have went out as a Bruin, this has Pedro as a Phillie, Mays as a Met, Montana as a 49er and Brady as a Buccaneer all over it.

The landscape of Boston sports does not look very promising going forward and to lose Brady and Z in the same year,.

Again, I know there's no place for sentimentality in sports as it's a business, but...........................
Yeah, I never got used to Montana as a 49er.

Love the guy, will miss the guy, but it's time.
 

Cotillion

New Member
Jun 11, 2019
4,926
Maybe not the most popular opinion, but I would rather he did not play on the Bruins in 2021 and beyond. He was great, and I love the guy, but he just looks so slow every time out.
Yeah... I think they will miss parts of his leadership, but he was often a liability at times. There were lots of times he would try to clear a puck from his own zone and barely get it to the blue line... it was awful to watch... he just didn't have the stamina to play the game he still wants to play.