The Captain has left the building. According to multiple reports Wednesday afternoon, defenseman Zdeno Chara has signed a contract to play with the Washington Capitals this upcoming season.
The signing ends a 14 year run with the Boston Bruins. Chara was signed back on July 1, 2006 after spending eight seasons in the NHL with the New York Islanders and Ottawa Senators. He won a Stanley Cup in Boston back in 2011, and had two more Finals appearances in 2013 and 2019. Terms of the deal with Washington were not immediately disclosed. He finishes ninth all time in powerplay goals in Bruins history with 69, and eighth with a plus minus rating of +240. This past January 13, he became just the sixth player in Boston team history to appear in 1,000 career games. He also won two major awards with the club. In 2009 he won the Norris Trophy as the top D man in the league, and in 2011 the Mark Messier Award for Leadership. He appeared in five NHL All-Star games with the B’s in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, and 2012. He is the oldest player in the league at 43 playing a total of 22 seasons so far. Overall for Boston he played 1,023 games with 148 goals and 333 assists.
Chara wrote on Instagram that he will always be a Bruin and thanked the city. He also added, “My family and I have been so fortunate to call the great city of Boston our home for over 14 years. 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. 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,” Chara added. “‘Thank you does not seem adequate to express my sincere gratitude. I will always be a Bruin. I will always love Boston.”
