Bruins decide not to bring back Zdeno Chara; signs one-year deal with Capitals

Zdeno Chara confirmed on Wednesday that he would not be returning to the Boston Bruins for a 15th season.

Instead, Chara, 43, will spend his 23rd NHL season with the Washington Capitals. The defenseman and former Bruin captain signed a 1-year, $795,000 deal.

“My family and I have been so fortunate to call the great city of Boston our home for over 14 years,” said Chara via his Instagram. “Recently, The Boston Bruins have informed me that they plan to move forward with their many younger and talented players and I respect their decision. Unfortunately, my time as the proud Captain of the Bruins has come to an end.”

Chara, a 6-foot-9 defenseman, signed with the Bruins a free-agent contract for five years worth $37.5 million and was named the Bruins captain in 2006. He signed in Boston after spending four years with the Ottawa Senators and beginning his career with the New York Islands.

Chara was the leader of Boston’s defensive group during a Stanley Cup title run in 2011 and a trip back to the final in 2013 in a losing effort against the Chicago Blackhawks. During Chara’s 14 years in Boston, the Bruins reached the Stanley Cup final three times. The 2011 trip was the first time the Bruins reached the Stanley Cup since 1990 and was Boston’s first title since 1972.

Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara (33) shoots the puck before a game against the Colorado Avalanche at the TD Garden on Dec. 7, 2019.

 (Photo: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports)

“My family and I will always cherish the strong friendships and connections we made here,” wrote Chara on Instagram. “From the beginning in 2006, we have been embraced by this community and made to feel welcome. We will always be grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the community and for the people who always supported me and my family.”

After finishing up a seven-year, $45.5 million contract in 2018, Chara signed a pair of one-year extensions (worth $5 million for the 2018-19 season and $2 million for the 2019-20 season). 

On Dec. 18, the NHL and its players association agreed on a Jan. 13 start date for the season. Just weeks away from the start of the season, Chara’s status with the Bruins remained uncertain, until Wednesday. 

Chara’s Bruins were consistent contenders. During his 14 seasons, Boston qualified for the playoffs 11 times. After missing the postseason during Chara’s first season in Boston, the Bruins reached the Stanley Cup playoffs seven times in a row. Chara played in 150 playoff games as a Bruin, tallying 15 goals and 41 assists. 

Last season, Chara became the sixth person to play 1,000 games in a Bruins uniform joining Patrice Bergeron, Ray Bourque, Johnny Bucyk, Don Sweeney and Wayne Cashman. He also played his 1,5000 career NHL game.

In 1,023 games with the Bruins, Chara scored 148 goals and 333 assists. Chara is a six-time NHL All-Star, with five of those coming as a Bruin. 

Chara isn’t the only notable loss on the blue line for the Bruins. Torey Krug signed a seven-year, $45 million deal with the St. Louis Blues after spending the first nine years of his career with Boston. 

After Krug signed with the Blues and the Bruins signed forward Craig Smith to a three-year deal, here’s what general manager Don Sweeney had to say about Chara’s free agency: “Zdeno is part of the equation. We’ll continue to have conversations with his group, and allow him the latitude to make those decisions accordingly.”

Chara thanked the fans, teammates, Bruins staffers and owner Jeremy Jacobs in his goodbye message on Instagram.

“As I begin this next chapter, I want the people of Boston to know how proud I was to be a Bruin and how grateful I am for all of the support over the years. “Thank you” does not seem adequate to express my sincere gratitude. I will always be a Bruin. I will always love Boston,” wrote Chara.

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