BHN Puck Links: Not Surprisingly, Bruins Move On From Zdeno Chara

As 2020 comes to a close, it has taken away one more Boston Sports icon from the city of Boston as, after 14 seasons, the Boston Bruins and Zdeno Chara parted ways on Wednesday. 

The Bruins captain for the last 14 years and a player instrumental in leading the Bruins back to their first Stanley Cup in 39 seasons, signed a one-year, $795,000 contract with the Washington Capitals on Wednesday. Boston Hockey Now had you covered and once again explained why it was time for the Bruins to move on from Zdeno Chara.

Remember when Bruins goalies Tuukka Rask and Jaro Halak had an epic goalie duel at the World Juniors?

A middle-six center has hit the NHL Trade market. 

The NHL is all systems go in the Great White North!

That and more in your latest Boston Hockey Puck Links!

If you’ve been reading Boston Hockey Now since the Boston Bruins 2019-20 season and Stanley Cup Playoffs run ended on August 31, you wouldn’t be waking up today wondering:

‘What the bleep just happened?!’

You would’ve seen the writing on the wall, and that as my partner in crime, Joe Haggerty, here at BHN has preached, the Bruins never really wanted Zdeno Chara back. It’s not a slight on Chara, but rather the fact that this is a business. Chara confirmed this after he signed with the Capitals Wednesday night. (Boston Hockey Now)

Just as Chara did after he signed with the Caps, the Bruins made sure to let him know what he meant to their organization.

There have been few that have represented the Spoked-B with as much class, honor, and respect as Zdeno Chara. His place in Bruins history is cemented forever.

Thank you, Zee, for all you have done for our organization and our city.#ThankYouZee | #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/8PKclWHrLj

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) December 31, 2020

How will the Zdeno Chara signing with the Caps affect the Capitals-Penguins rivalry? (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

Does anyone remember an epic goalie duel between Boston Bruins goalies Tuukka Rask and Jaro Halak? Yeah neither did we! (Boston Hockey Now)

Winnipeg Jets center and former first round pick Jack Roslovic has requested a trade. (Sportsnet)

NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly confirmed there will be NHL hockey north of the border!  (TSN)

The AHL also confirmed that they are still planning on starting their season on Feb. 5. (AHL)

When Zdeno Chara signed with the Capitals Wednesday, it concluded an era of not just Boston Bruins hockey but of my career. To be honest, pretty much my career until now. When I graduated from UMass-Amherst in 2000, I took a post-grad internship with the New York Islanders working on their game night media relations staff. Zdeno Chara was an Islanders defenseman then and a longtime family friend, Colorado Eagles Head Coach Greg Cronin, was an Islanders Assistant Coach. 

This past season after a Bruins practice, Chara and I were reminiscing about that 2000-01 season and the coaching techniques of our mutual friend ‘Cro’. Haggs came over and joined in and then suddenly we were talking about music. Chara informed us that his favorite band is the Foo Fighters. After he signed with the Caps, I immediately thought of that convo we shared and this classic Foo track came to mind. Zdeno Chara helped enable me to cover some amazing games and events over the last 14 seasons. Thanks for that and for always being a true pro with the media ‘Zee’!