Chara signs with Capitals

Ferm Sheller

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So does this move Bergy to most beloved current Boston pro athlete (if he wasn't already), or at least break the tie? Who are the other contenders?

Tatum? Maybe getting there, but not yet.

X? I don't think so, but reasonable minds might differ.

For the Pats, it's probably Edelman at the top of the heap, but I think he falls short (and has perhaps played his last down for the Pats, anyway).
 

cshea

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Chara still ate a ton of PK minutes as well as d zone starts against elite competition. He's old, slow and useless on offense but there were areas of the game that he was still quite useful. They lost their top offensive defenseman and now their top penalty kill and end of game guy. These are big shoes to fill for kids like Zboril (2 NHL games) and Vaakanainen (9 NHL games).

This is just sort of the culmination of a strange offseason. They signed Craig Smith and let Krug and Chara go with no move to replace either. I'm excited to see the kids but there is going to be a heavy burden on their shoulders. I'm not sure the Bruins are better now than they were when they got knocked out. That's somewhat concerning for a team that is nearing the end of a contending window.

Maybe Chara told them he was unwilling to accept a reduced role. But I'll never understand why they prioritized Kevan Miller over Zdeno Chara.
 

LogansDad

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Seriously, Mookie, Brady and Chara in the same year. I know we are lucky to have watched them play for our teams, but that's an absolute nut punch of a year for a sports fan.
 

Beomoose

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Gonna put the ultimate good-ness of the team to the side for a few minutes and have myself a bit of a big ole sad over this. End of a fuckin era.
 

Ferm Sheller

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That's where they actually have depth though. McAvoy, Carlo, Clifton, Kampfer plus Lauzon and Moore can play on the right. The left side is Grzelyck and then the kids.
Okay, but Kampfer's a corpse, and it's not ideal to have Lauzon or Moore on the right. I think they want two of Lauzon, Zboril, and Vaak to take starting roles on the left.
 
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54thMA

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Seriously, Mookie, Brady and Chara in the same year. I know we are lucky to have watched them play for our teams, but that's an absolute nut punch of a year for a sports fan.
Think of how you're going to feel when all three of them end up winning a championship elsewhere..............;)................
 

joe dokes

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Chara still ate a ton of PK minutes as well as d zone starts against elite competition. He's old, slow and useless on offense but there were areas of the game that he was still quite useful. They lost their top offensive defenseman and now their top penalty kill and end of game guy. These are big shoes to fill for kids like Zboril (2 NHL games) and Vaakanainen (9 NHL games).

This is just sort of the culmination of a strange offseason. They signed Craig Smith and let Krug and Chara go with no move to replace either. I'm excited to see the kids but there is going to be a heavy burden on their shoulders. I'm not sure the Bruins are better now than they were when they got knocked out. That's somewhat concerning for a team that is nearing the end of a contending window.

Maybe Chara told them he was unwilling to accept a reduced role. But I'll never understand why they prioritized Kevan Miller over Zdeno Chara.
I think his areas of defensive usefulness had diminished, and, maybe more importantly, his offensive futility was affecting his defensive effectiveness. Unable to carry the puck significantly, and multiple clearing passes not working were regular occurrences. We all saw the extra 30seconds of d-zone time among the displays of defensive strength. I always thought there was something wrong with his elbow or shoulder from a prior injury that screwed up his leverage.

It sucks that it has to end. But I think that any talk of a pejorative "sucks to end this way" is off-base. It looks like both sides were honest with each other and there was little or no public trashing. Whether, and to what extent, Sweeney and Cassidy said "you're not in our plans," or "we dont think you can play top-4 minutes," I dont think anyone here can say that those positions are insane or some bullshit excuse for being cheap. It's unfortunate that the NHL doesn't have room for a shorthand-only specialist.
 

54thMA

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If we're going to nitpick, you also have the Sox losing to the Mets about the time that the light bulb was invented. :)
I really brought my A game to this thread................;)..................actually, I wish it had happened in 1896, then I wouldn't have seen it happen live.
 

Ferm Sheller

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I really brought my A game to this thread................;)..................actually, I wish it had happened in 1896, then I wouldn't have seen it happen live.
I knew what you meant, FWIW, and I didn't have to google it.
 

cshea

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Okay, but Kampfer's a corpse, and it's not ideal to have Lauzon or Moore on the right. I think they want two of Lauzon, Zboril, and Vaak to play on the left.
Miller's probably more of a corpse than Kampfer though. Miller hasn't played in a hockey game in almost 2 years and has had like 5 surgical procedures on his knee. I mean, I like Miller and I hope it works out for him but I think they had suitable depth on the right side to begin with.

I get them wanting to see the kids. We know they're very high on Zboril and probably Vaakanainen too. My problem is now they have no safety net. It's sink or swim. The entire defense is going to be put into positions they aren't used too. McAvoy's going to assume more minutes. He's never got a ton of PP time but now he'll likely be asked to take some of Krug's minutes. Carlo's going to have to eat a lot more of the heavy defensive mintues than he's used too. Grzelyck has been a bottom pairing guy his whole career and now he's going to be on the top pair, or at least top 4, playing tougher competition. Then you've got the kids who are a whole unknown. Even while declining, Chara was a stabilizing presence on the back end. Up a goal with 1:30 left and he could be counted on to help seal the deal. Need a big penalty kill with 5 minutes left in a tie game or up a goal? Chara's out there to kill the whole thing.
 

Ferm Sheller

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But it's not like they couldn't have had both Miller and Chara. As you say, Miller's a reclamation project who might not work out, so he has no reason to have any expectations of minutes/games played, whereas Chara likely wanted to be a regular starter -- something that the B's were unwilling to commit to given that they want to develop Vaak/Zboril/Lauzon.

If Gryz, Lauzon, and one of Zboril/Vaak/Moore doesn't pan out, then a LH Dman will be their top priority at the trade deadline.
 

RedOctober3829

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Miller's probably more of a corpse than Kampfer though. Miller hasn't played in a hockey game in almost 2 years and has had like 5 surgical procedures on his knee. I mean, I like Miller and I hope it works out for him but I think they had suitable depth on the right side to begin with.

I get them wanting to see the kids. We know they're very high on Zboril and probably Vaakanainen too. My problem is now they have no safety net. It's sink or swim. The entire defense is going to be put into positions they aren't used too. McAvoy's going to assume more minutes. He's never got a ton of PP time but now he'll likely be asked to take some of Krug's minutes. Carlo's going to have to eat a lot more of the heavy defensive mintues than he's used too. Grzelyck has been a bottom pairing guy his whole career and now he's going to be on the top pair, or at least top 4, playing tougher competition. Then you've got the kids who are a whole unknown. Even while declining, Chara was a stabilizing presence on the back end. Up a goal with 1:30 left and he could be counted on to help seal the deal. Need a big penalty kill with 5 minutes left in a tie game or up a goal? Chara's out there to kill the whole thing.
I wonder with Zboril that Sweeney feels he has to try to get everything out of him he can because of how much blowback he’s gotten for missing on Barzal.
 

RG33

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This is without a doubt, the absolute correct hockey move. With the direction the NHL has gone the last 5-7 years and the ability that Zdeno Chara has gone with respect to being able to move on ice with skates attached to his feet, it was time. He was horrifically slow afoot and a liability out there a lot of the time.

With that said, I am totally bummed. Somehow, it feels like Chara is an underrated Boston superstar. He legitimized this team when he came, he lead it every single day that he was on it, and he brought home the Stanley Cup (and the passion of hockey fans in New England) to Boston. I wish he would have just retired — but do not hold against him his love for hockey.

I look forward to the Bruins retiring his number and Chara getting the long ovation that he deserves. He was a stud and a great guy and hopefullly stays in Boston post-retirement.
 

cshea

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But it's not like they couldn't have had both Miller and Chara. As you say, Miller's a reclamation project who might not work out, so he has no reason to have any expectations of minutes/games played, whereas Chara likely wanted to be a regular starter -- something that the B's were unwilling to commit to given that they want to develop Vaak/Zboril/Lauzon.

If Gryz, Lauzon, and one of Zboril/Vaak/Moore doesn't pan out, then a LH Dman will be their top priority at the trade deadline.
I don't think we disagree too much. I want to play the kids and also have Z around as a mentor and safety net If he was unwilling to accept a reduced role, then maybe there's nothing they could've done.
 

bigq

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Loved watching him in the black and gold sweater. He gave the best years of his career to the Bruins and it was probably time for him to move on.
 

Ferm Sheller

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I don't think we disagree too much. I want to play the kids and also have Z around as a mentor and safety net If he was unwilling to accept a reduced role, then maybe there's nothing they could've done.
That's right. Let's hope that at least two of Lauzon/Vaak/Zboril are in the mix for the Calder.

In any event, I'm ready for opening night. Can't come fast enough.
 

Ferm Sheller

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Also, speaking of left-handed prospects, they signed Jack Ahcan last spring (I'd forgotten about that until I just checked their cap situation). Obviously he's far from a sure thing, but he's going to be given a shot to make the team, too.
 

mikeford

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So does this move Bergy to most beloved current Boston pro athlete (if he wasn't already), or at least break the tie? Who are the other contenders?

Tatum? Maybe getting there, but not yet.

X? I don't think so, but reasonable minds might differ.

For the Pats, it's probably Edelman at the top of the heap, but I think he falls short (and has perhaps played his last down for the Pats, anyway).
Edelman or Devin McCourty based solely on Pats popularity vs hockey popularity.

For 800k I kinda can't believe they didn't bring the guy back. It's not like he sucked now or anything.
 

PedroSpecialK

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He was pretty bad last season, and there's no indication he would've accepted a reduced role - or that the team valued his contribution more highly than the possibility of losing Lauzon / Zboril to waivers.

It's the end of an era, and credit to Z for wanting to keep his career going and go for another Cup, but it was time - him on the roster for $800k sitting on the 7th floor every other game would've been painful to watch in many ways.
 

Bozo Texino

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He accomplished so much while he was a Bruin. And he did it all while being a class act.

But of all the great things he did, getting a bunch of butthurt Habs fans to tie up their police emergency line will always be my favorite.
 

DourDoerr

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That’s a classy thank you letter. Not surprising at all. Brought a lot of credibility when he chose to come to Boston. Thanks for the Cup, Z. See you in the FO someday?
 

Salem's Lot

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Chara would never have accepted a role as a 6/7 defenseman PK specialist on this team. And even if he did, it would’ve been enormous pressure on the young defenseman if they were going through the inevitable growing pains and losing games with Chara there and not playing much. This is for the best. It’s time to really transition to the McAvoy/Pastrnak core and keeping guys around like Chara past their prime at the expense of developing young guy makes no sense.

That being said, I want to see a lot of Zboril, Lauzon, and Vaakanainen, and not veteran stiffs like Moore & Kampfer.
 
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RoDaddy

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Feels a bit like when PP left the Celts for Brooklyn - a great Boston player who shoulda left with more than one championship

Z is one of my all time favorite B's, and I have a lot or them going back to Orr and Chief. Loved the documentary NESN did on him a year or so ago
 

Jordu

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Chara did everything right on the ice and off the ice. He led the Bruins at the rink, in the room, and in the community. He’s as classy a pro athlete as you’ll find.
 

RIFan

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It is going to be so painful to see Chara playing against the Bruins. I really wanted to see him directly pass on the C to Bergy and hoped he was going to be back in a reduced role. I guess that was never in the cards. Chara became the player he was because he pushed himself harder than anyone else could. It’s just not in him to go along for the ride and not push to be the best.

Chara is the type of pro that every athlete regardless of sport should look to emulate. Hopefully it won’t be too long before 33 is hoisted to the rafters.
 

PedroSpecialK

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The same knuckledraggers who were jeering Chara's lack of speed from the balcony for the past five years now holding him up as a top-pairing defenseman because the team moved on is pretty rich.

Which is to say - staying off B's Twitter is probably a smart decision.
 

h8mfy

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Living on LI, I saw one of his first NHL games, and remember the hype and then the locals’ disappointment that he wasn’t an immediate success and then became trade bait.

Based on that I remember sort of being surprised when he was immediately made captain, but to then watch him lead the Bs to the Cup and learn all he was doing off the ice was unforeseeable that night in the Nassau Mausoleum.
 

RedOctober3829

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The same knuckledraggers who were jeering Chara's lack of speed from the balcony for the past five years now holding him up as a top-pairing defenseman because the team moved on is pretty rich.

Which is to say - staying off B's Twitter is probably a smart decision.
Oh it's awful. We all could see the writing on the wall at the end of the bubble. He was not moving well and was a liability at times. It doesn't take away the disappointment of him leaving, but the perception of Chara out the door does not match what we saw on the ice.
 

joe dokes

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More will be asked of McAvoy, but I think that he spent a lot of energy covering for chara in a way, especially on dump ins, where Chara simply could not get back to the corners. Don't get me wrong, in 20 years, McAvoy will be creditng Chara for his own development, but I think McAvoy will really make a leap now.
 

Maximus

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Chara would never have accepted a role as a 6/7 defenseman PK specialist on this team. And even if he did, it would’ve been enormous pressure on the young defenseman if they were going through the inevitable growing pains and losing games with Chara there and not playing much. This is for the best. It’s time to really transition to the McAvoy/Pastrnak core and keeping guys around like Chara past their prime at the expense of developing young guy makes no sense.

That being said, I want to see a lot of Zboril, Lauzon, and Vaakanainen, and not veteran stuffs like Moore & Kampfer.
This. With this move, we need to see a lot of Zboril, Lauzon & Vaak. Spare us giving minutes to Kampfer & Moore. Z was a great captain & a class act.
 

Manramsclan

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This is a bummer. And it makes sense. He's 43. Some of these guys need ice time at the NHL level for them to improve.

Thanks Z! I'll always remember you telling Crosby that he don't want none of this Slovak