Veteran defenseman Zdeno Chara is returning to a familiar place for his 24th season in NHL. Chara, who will turn 45 next March, agreed to a one-year deal with the New York Islanders, the same franchise that drafted him back in 1996.
The Islanders announced the news on the team’s social media in a series of tweets that included several photos of Chara’s first stint with the Islanders.
In a Zoom chat with reporters over the weekend, Chara said he was enthusiastic about returning to the organization after two decades.
“It’s kind of full circle,” Chara said. “Who would know that this would work out with the way it did after 20-some years. I’m very honored and humbled to be an Islander again.”
Chara spent the 2020-21 campaign with the Washington Capitals, having 10 points (two goals and eight assists) in 55 games. He became a free agent at the end of the season and said he had a strong market before returning to New York.
“I love the game,” he added. “I have passion for the game, and I believe I can still play. That’s all you need.”
Zdeno Chara made his NHL debut with the Islanders in 1997 and spent four years with the franchise before embarking on stints with the Ottawa Senators, the Boston Bruins, and the Capitals. Chara left the biggest mark in Boston, where he was a perennial All-Star, won the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the league’s best defenseman, and helped the franchise win a Stanley Cup in 2011.
Chara played 1,608 NHL games in his career, which puts him at No. 13 on the all-time list. He has 207 goals and 459 assists for a total of 666 points.
