On Monday night, Zdeno Chara will reach yet another games played milestone.
The 44-year old will step onto the ice for the 1,636th time, passing Scott Stevens for the second-most games all-time among defensemen and hitting 10th on the all-time list. Later this year, assuming things go to plan, Chara will pass Chris Chelios’ 1,651 games for the most all-time at the position.
Even Andy Greene, who’s played over 1,000 games and has a 16-year career of his own, called what Chara has done “jaw-dropping.”
“You just look at 600 more [than me], that’s a great career in this league, right,” Greene said. “We know what Z has been able to do through two or three or four different types of eras where the style of the game has changed a couple of times. It’s very impressive.”
If not for the 2004-05 and 2012-13 lockouts, and shortened seasons due to COVID-19, Chara’s staggering total of games would be even higher. He’s in the midst of his 24th season in the league, having started with the Islanders in 1997 before being infamously traded to Ottawa in a deal for Alexei Yashin.
Between then and returning to the Isles last offseason, Chara made six All-Star Games and won the 2008-09 Norris Trophy as well as the 2011 Stanley Cup.
“Obviously you know his presence,” associate coach Lane Lambert said when asked about when he had to prepare to play against Chara. “The thing about it is his ability to defend and the reach that he has. So you just have to be prepared and aware of that, for sure.”
It took a long time for his age to show, but it has at times this year. At the beginning of the season especially, Chara looked like he’d lost a step and the Islanders struggled to produce with him on the ice. Lately, though, he’s formed an effective pair with Noah Dobson.
The Islanders face a key set of games this week, with a home-and-home against the Flyers, who have lost seven straight headed into Monday, before a home date against the league-worst Coyotes. It could be their best chance to get back above .500 before the All-Star break.
“I don’t think it’s overwhelming at all,” Mat Barzal said when asked about the standings, in which the Isles are in last place in the division. “We know we have a ton of games in hand. We know there’s 50 or so game left in the season.”
Barry Trotz returned to the Islanders bench on Monday after spending time on the COVID-19 list. Lambert had no updates on Kyle Palmieri or Ryan Pulock, who are still on injured reserve.