Chara signs with Capitals

TFP

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Dec 10, 2007
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Too late? Kyrie left in 2019.

Good joke though?
 
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Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
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Jul 22, 2006
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I appreciate the emotional side of things, but this was the right decision, provided the sticking point was Z’s minutes and role.

Anyone who watches hockey with an understanding of the game recognizes that at this point in his HOF, sweater retiring career, Zdeno Chara is a 44 year old PK specialist who needs sheltered minutes and zone starts. If deployed properly and sparingly ( maybe ~13-15 minutes a night?) Z can still be a contributor on the ice; I presume his contributions off the ice are still substantial. If he thinks he’s more than that, he can go try elsewhere with all of the love and blessings of those of us that got a chance to watch him for the last 15 years or whatever it was.

Bummer there won’t be fans in the building when he returns.
 

gryoung

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Watching Character play last “season” was painful. Slow, shaky passing out of the defensive zone, a liability during 5-5 play. I was hoping he’d accept a lesser role here - reduced minutes, some closely managed penalty killing, and mostly being a coach to the young defensemen.

My main concern now is where the B’s find some attitude to provide protection against the physical teams.
 

cshea

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Nov 15, 2006
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Sweeney talking now.

- Says they offered Chara a contract "months ago" but also told him they wanted to see the young D play and that he wouldn't be returning in the same role that he's been in for 14 years.

- Bruins will have a captain this season. They'll give it time before making it official but he said the choice is "obvious"
 

LogansDad

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Sweeney talking now.

- Says they offered Chara a contract "months ago" but also told him they wanted to see the young D play and that he wouldn't be returning in the same role that he's been in for 14 years.

- Bruins will have a captain this season. They'll give it time before making it official but he said the choice is "obvious"
Nick Ritchie, of course.
 

cshea

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They are getting killed publicly (which I think is more a reflection of their entire offseason than simply Chara), but I think the Bruins handled this situation as well as could be. They gave him an honest assessment of what they saw as his role going forward and then let him make his decision. They probably could've just signed him and then had the role conversation at a later date, but at least they were forthright with Chara and put the ball in his court.
 

FL4WL3SS

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Jul 31, 2006
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I appreciate the emotional side of things, but this was the right decision, provided the sticking point was Z’s minutes and role.

Anyone who watches hockey with an understanding of the game recognizes that at this point in his HOF, sweater retiring career, Zdeno Chara is a 44 year old PK specialist who needs sheltered minutes and zone starts. If deployed properly and sparingly ( maybe ~13-15 minutes a night?) Z can still be a contributor on the ice; I presume his contributions off the ice are still substantial. If he thinks he’s more than that, he can go try elsewhere with all of the love and blessings of those of us that got a chance to watch him for the last 15 years or whatever it was.

Bummer there won’t be fans in the building when he returns.
Perfectly sums up my thoughts and sentiment.
 

veritas

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I’m really torn here. Emotionally I’m gutted to see him go. I think he’s one of a very small number of players who has not-insignificant intangible value. I’d love to see them bring him back someday in a non-playing capacity, I have no doubt he could be valuable in a number of different potential roles.

But he’s not really very good anymore. He’s a 3rd pairing guy, easily replaceable on-ice. And at his age, he very well could end up being so bad he is absolutely killing the team, then they’re in the extremely uncomfortable position of benching/waiving their captain mid season. Especially in this condensed season, it was much more about the roster flexibility and not the money.
 

joe dokes

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Jul 18, 2005
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Sweeney talking now.

- Says they offered Chara a contract "months ago" but also told him they wanted to see the young D play and that he wouldn't be returning in the same role that he's been in for 14 years.

- Bruins will have a captain this season. They'll give it time before making it official but he said the choice is "obvious"
Sweeney said nearly the same thing about "roles" a few weeks ago, IIRC. He didn't use the word "reduced" back then, but it was obvious to anyone that that's what he meant. At the same time, I credit Sweeney for taking the hits as to "let's see the young D play," as opposed to the equivalent, perhaps more accurate, but harsher, "Given Z's declining skills and only targeted effectiveness, we think it's likely that we'll be better with one or more of the young D's stepping in and stepping up."
 

Salem's Lot

Andy Moog! Andy God Damn Moog!
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This is where he loses me a little bit. He says he got no guarantees of playing time from Washington. He still could be a "reserve player" in his own words with Washington. Unless the Bruins told him he was going to be in Steve Kampfer's role and basically never play at all, he's in a similar situation in Washington.

View: https://twitter.com/wyshynski/status/1344701361946914816?s=20
I know I’d have a much easier time accepting a reduced role at a different company than the one that I’ve been a leader at for 14 years.
 

Ferm Sheller

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Mar 5, 2007
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This is where he loses me a little bit. He says he got no guarantees of playing time from Washington. He still could be a "reserve player" in his own words with Washington. Unless the Bruins told him he was going to be in Steve Kampfer's role and basically never play at all, he's in a similar situation in Washington.

View: https://twitter.com/wyshynski/status/1344701361946914816?s=20
I look at this as "Boston told me that I'll definitely have a substantially reduced role; Washington told me I could play every game and average 22+ minutes a game if I can show that I'm worthy of it. Not ideal, but I'll take my chances..."