For the first time since departing the Boston Bruins, former team captain Zdeno Chara took the ice at TD Garden Wednesday night.Chara is in his first season with the Washington Capitals after playing the past 14 seasons with the Bruins and was Boston's captain in each one of them.The 43-year-old defenseman led the B's to a Stanley Cup title in 2011, their first since 1972, and two more Stanley Cup Final appearances in 2013 and 2019.Chara won two major awards during his time with the Bruins, claiming the Norris Trophy as the NHL's top defenseman in 2009 and the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award in 2011. He also made five NHL All-Star Game appearances with Boston (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012).The Bruins played a tribute video to Chara during Wednesday's game and shared it on their Twitter account.Watch the Bruins' Zdeno Chara tribute video below:"I can't tell you how much I appreciate and how lucky and blessed I am to share these celebrations with the fans and everything they've done for me and my family," Chara said this week. "All of these communities I have been a part of, I just want to thank them for everything they have done for me and my family: for the support and for the love."The 6-foot-9 Slovakia native is the tallest person to ever play in the NHL. He has scored two goals and notched four assists with a plus-minus rating of +10 in 21 games with the Capitals."Every time a player like that comes back home, it's a special night," said Bruins alternate captain David Krejci, who was Chara's teammate throughout his tenure in Boston. "You know, without fans tonight it will be a little bit different. But it's obviously going to be nice to see him again and for him, I'm sure it's going to be nice to play at the Garden.""He became part of the fabric of the things that we want within this organization and from the city," said Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo, who was Chara's teammate for four seasons. "For me, before I even got here, he was a guy that I was idolizing."Chara's return to Boston also meant that he got to see his wife and their three children, who still live in the city's North End, for the first time since he departed for Washington, D.C. in early January.The Bruins and Capitals are among the top three teams in the NHL's East Division and split their previous two meetings on Jan. 30 and Feb. 1.
BOSTON — For the first time since departing the Boston Bruins, former team captain Zdeno Chara took the ice at TD Garden Wednesday night.
Chara is in his first season with the Washington Capitals after playing the past 14 seasons with the Bruins and was Boston's captain in each one of them.
The 43-year-old defenseman led the B's to a Stanley Cup title in 2011, their first since 1972, and two more Stanley Cup Final appearances in 2013 and 2019.
Chara won two major awards during his time with the Bruins, claiming the Norris Trophy as the NHL's top defenseman in 2009 and the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award in 2011. He also made five NHL All-Star Game appearances with Boston (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012).
The Bruins played a tribute video to Chara during Wednesday's game and shared it on their Twitter account.
Watch the Bruins' Zdeno Chara tribute video below:
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"I can't tell you how much I appreciate and how lucky and blessed I am to share these celebrations with the fans and everything they've done for me and my family," Chara said this week. "All of these communities I have been a part of, I just want to thank them for everything they have done for me and my family: for the support and for the love."
The 6-foot-9 Slovakia native is the tallest person to ever play in the NHL. He has scored two goals and notched four assists with a plus-minus rating of +10 in 21 games with the Capitals.
"Every time a player like that comes back home, it's a special night," said Bruins alternate captain David Krejci, who was Chara's teammate throughout his tenure in Boston. "You know, without fans tonight it will be a little bit different. But it's obviously going to be nice to see him again and for him, I'm sure it's going to be nice to play at the Garden."
Julie Jacobson
Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara hoists the Stanley Cup after the Bruins beat the Vancouver Canucks 4-0 in Game 7 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals, in Vancouver, British Columbia on June 15, 2020. (AP Photo)
"He became part of the fabric of the things that we want within this organization and from the city," said Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo, who was Chara's teammate for four seasons. "For me, before I even got here, he was a guy that I was idolizing."
Chara's return to Boston also meant that he got to see his wife and their three children, who still live in the city's North End, for the first time since he departed for Washington, D.C. in early January.
The Bruins and Capitals are among the top three teams in the NHL's East Division and split their previous two meetings on Jan. 30 and Feb. 1.
