Future Hall of Famer returns to the organization that drafted him 25 years ago.
On Saturday, the New York Islanders signed a 44-year-old defenseman to a one-year contract.
If the nameplate on the locker didn’t read CHARA, fans might have questions about signing a player that age.
“They are a very solid group with strong leadership, a great coaching staff and one of the best managers in the league. It’s a well structured and cultured team. They have been making a lot of noise around the year, especially last year.”
Hear more from Chara ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/ByKcEY1Dpq
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) September 18, 2021
Chara was originally drafted by the Islanders in the third round (56th overall) of the 1996 NHL Entry Draft.
Mathew Barzal was born in 1997.
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We get it. Chara’s old. But there’s still some gas in the tank. Last year with Washington, Chara played well enough to show he’s still a valuable third-pair defenseman. And that’s where the Islanders see him contributing in the coming season.
Zdeno Chara, signed one year by NYI, is a third pairing defensive defenceman who still provides value despite his age and lack of foot speed. #Isles pic.twitter.com/2g5kqzWjgC
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) September 18, 2021
Back where it started
Chara played in parts of four seasons for the Islanders until the infamous trade, made by then-GM Mike Milbury, that sent a young Chara, Bill Muckalt and first-round pick in the 2001 draft to Ottawa for forward Alexei Yashin.
That first round pick would turn into Jason Spezza, the No. 2 overall pick in 2001.
Chara eventually landed in Boston, where he would serve as the Bruins’ captain from the 2006-07 season until the 2019-20 campaign.
Chara wore the C on his chest in Boston for 1,023 games. He won a Norris Trophy in Boston (2008-09) and helped Boston win a Stanley Cup championship in 2011.
In 2021-22, he returns to the Islanders to run it back where it all started.
throwback. pic.twitter.com/qI568P2CRz
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) September 18, 2021