Tireless defenseman Zdeno Chara returns to the New York Islanders, the club that drafted him 25 years ago.
The club confirmed the news about the 44-year-old on Saturday, saying the deal was valid for one season. The value of the contract, however, was not disclosed.
To illustrate how impressive the longevity of Chara’s career is, it should be recalled that he was selected in the third round (56th overall) by the Islanders in the 1996 draft. That same year, that same year. formation had also chosen the Quebecer Jean-Pierre Dumont in the first round. However, Dumont retired ten years ago, not without having played a venerable total of 822 regular season games.
In Chara’s case, he’s now played in 1,608 regular-season games and will start a 24th season in the National Hockey League (NHL). In terms of games played, he ranks 13th in NHL history, but could soon overtake Raymond Bourque (1612) and then Larry Murphy (1615). Remember that striker Patrick Marleau is the one who holds the record since last year with 1779 games played.
A busy career
Speaking of Chara’s long journey, the Slovak had spent the first four seasons of his career with New York squad before being traded to the Ottawa Senators in June 2001. He was then involved in the famous transaction involving Alexei Yashin, taking charge of the federal capital with Bill Muckalt and a first-round draft pick (who became Jason Spezza).
Obviously the oldest of the National Hockey League, the giant 6’9 ”, 250lb defenseman will be celebrating his 45th birthday in the coming season, specifically on March 18.
In his first 1,608 regular season NHL games, Chara totaled 666 points, including 207 goals, having also played for the Boston Bruins and Washington Capitals. He won the Stanley Cup once, in 2011 with the Bruins, and was notably the recipient of the Norris Trophy, awarded to the best defenseman, at the end of the 2008-2009 campaign.
Last season with the Capitals, Chara played 55 games and collected 10 points before making five playoff games. With the Islanders, the veteran joins a defensive squad that is already betting on Adam Pelech, Ryan Pulock and Noah Dobson, among others.
