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Zdeno Chára is ready for a fantastic 24th season in the NHL. The legendary defender is among the hockey players in such a category as the animals at the very bottom of the ocean. There is a minimum of them there and it is similar with a giant hockey player.
His devotion to hockey is incredible. He trains hard and eats healthily when he has removed everything of animal origin from the menu. Even at the age of 44, he wants to show that he still has the help to help one of the favorites for the Stanley Cup, which the New York Islanders certainly are.
I’m not focusing on Chelios’ record, but on how to help the Islanders win, says ZDENO CHÁRA
The Long Island team has a busy line-up that is not easy to get into. Richard Pánik felt it in full. The wingman was acquired by a New York team in exchange from Detroit. He was expected to start in the fourth formation, where he could use his hardness, but the management eventually placed him on the waiver list of unprotected players.
„The camp was very high quality and well organized. The first trainings were, as usual, focused on fitness and personal fights. Later we practiced the system, power-ups and weaknesses. I’m already looking forward to the start of the season, “ Zdeno Chára told us, who started training with the talented Noeh Dobson. The Canadian defender is 23 years younger than Trenčan.
The Islanders do not have big stars in their line-up, like their biggest competitors, but they play aggressive, pressure hockey with four balanced fives. “It simply came to our notice then. It is built for play-off hockey. I can say that every match I have played against the Islanders in the last two years has been very difficult. They deservedly been twice in a row in the semifinals. The current culture was brought by manager Lou Lamoriello, who was still successful in the New Jersey Devils, “ the long-time captain of the Slovak national team continued.
PRECISIONALLY SET WORK
Lamoriello and coach Barry Trotz are the drivers of the rebirth of the “islanders” as one of the favorites of the profiliga. The New York club has bothered the later winners from Tampa Bay the most in the last two seasons, with whom it was equally eliminated in even series just before the finals.
“Mr. Lamoriello is the clear leader of the entire organization. He knows exactly what he wants and how the work is to be set up for each day. Every single member of the Islanders knows what his role is. “ said Zdeno Chára, who is very strict with himself. The strict rules of the club manager, which requires players to behave professionally on and off the ice, do not pose a problem for him. He is said to even oversee the team’s hairstyles or suits.
In the summer, several clubs were interested in the Slovak legend. The overseas media speculated mainly about Florida, a moment about Montreal, or a return to Washington. According to our information, even one of the clubs offered the 44-year-old defender a two-year contract.
Everyone knows that there are great records hanging in the air. Chara played 1608 games in the NHL. He is only 27 duels short of the overall ten in the profile and 43 again to equal the record of Chris Chelios. The legendary American skated the most matches in the history of the competition from the position of defender. However, the Trenčín native does not focus on that.
“I still love hockey. I am competitive and passionate about sports. First and foremost, I will focus on how to help my team win matches and how to help my teammates through experience. ” he told us honestly.
Zdeno Chara, New York Islanders
Zdroj: Twitter / New York Islanders
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Chára was chosen by manager Mike Milbury in the draft in 1996 from 56th place. The Islanders were in a completely different position then than they are today. They only stomped on the bottom of the league. “It’s been a long time since I last wore an Islanders jersey. A lot of things have changed in the club, but a few people I remember from my work still work in it, ” the Slovak defender continued.
One of them is fitness trainer Steve Webb, who started with the team at the age of 22. They are almost peers with Slovaks. “‘Zi’ was a very interesting hockey player and man from the first moment. The first summer after the season, when he peeked into the NHL, he was dealing with a problem knee. He had a lot of questions. Even then, he was fully focused not only on training, but also on eating and things around, “ mentioned by Steve Webb for The Athletic.
Chara played 231 games for the Islanders at the turn of the millennium, and then moved to Ottawa. In it, he fully developed his stellar career, which resulted in great years in Boston, certified by the Stanley Cup, or the Norris trophy for the best defender of the NHL.
AJ FEHÉRVÁRY ‘S merit
„I had Zdena in the AHL when he was on the border of the farm and the NHL. If you have a lot of young players in the team, the first thing you look at is what their nature is. He has been incredibly competitive since the introductory training, he hated losing. It stuck in my mind right away. He was a decent skater for his figure and always came in one hundred percent form. It’s great that he came back. It will definitely have a great impact on the team, “ he mentioned for The Athletic the then coach of the farming team and today the long-time television analyst Butch Goring.
Zdeno Chára left a positive influence on many players. The biggest stars also mention his professional approach to duties and exemplary performance. During the summer, it was not at all clear whether one of the best Slovak hockey players would extend his career. He finished the season in Washington, where his compatriot Martin Fehérváry and Czech goalkeeper Vítek Vaněček also talked him down for another year.
“Yes, it’s true, they talked me out of it. In the end, it turned out positively, “ Chara smiled in our conversation and added his view that Fehérváry should finally start in the first Capitals team after years of waiting.
„I think Martin belongs to the first Capitals team. He will definitely get the great chance he deserved over the years of hard work. He is an excellent skater. He just needs to gain the confidence and experience of playing in the best league in the world, ” said the defender of the Islanders.
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Miroslav Šatan believes that we will finally see Chára at the Olympics. It also counts …
Martin Fehérváry now believes that he will also play with the iconic defender at the Winter Olympics in Beijing. The management of the Chár national team registered for the wider nomination of the Slovak team. “I’m not dealing with the Olympics yet. It’s still a long way off, I’m now focusing fully on the beginning of the NHL season, “ told us typically concentrated Zdeno Chára, who is waiting for the old-new premiere in the jersey of the club from Long Island.
He used to fight for a chance in the NHL, when the team only collected defeat for defeat. Now he believes that his experience will help him to the longed-for path to the Stanley Cup. The New York club has been waiting for it for 38 years. Between 1980 and 1983, the Islanders won the profile four times in a row with legendary shooter Mike Bossy on Wednesday.
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