Zdeno Chara signs with the Isles for one year deal

This weekend, it was announced that Zdeno Chara signed with the Isles for a one-year deal. What does this mean for the player and how will this affect the team?

This weekend, 44-year-old defenseman Zdeno Chara signed with the New York Islanders, the team that drafted him back in 1996. This was a surprising move for the defenseman, as many expected him to either go back to the Boston Bruins, where he played for fourteen seasons and was captain, or stay with the Washington Capitals.

Going back to the Islanders after 20 years is definitely an unprecedented move for Chara, and it may actually point to the end of his time in the NHL by going back to the team that drafted him. It could be his way of going back to the beginning and wanting to retire on the team that gave him his start. However, you would think that he would choose to do that with the Bruins, the team that he was on for the longest time.

This is definitely a good move for the Islanders, and definitely gives them the veteran experience they need for a cup run this season. The only question is if Chara’s age will get in the way of him helping the team with what they need from him, which is more time on the ice and a veteran presence in the locker room. The time on the ice is obviously more important for the team, despite the cost it might have on Chara. They need someone who can play for a good portion of 20 minutes, which Chara may or may not be able to do at this point in his career.

However, the veteran presence is something that cannot be ignored. This is a great move for the Islanders to add experience to their roster, especially considering Chara was a captain for the Bruins and has a Stanley Cup to his name. This will bring new experience to the team, some of whom, including Mat Barzal and Anthony Beauvillier, weren’t even born yet when Chara was drafted.

What do you think of this move? Do you think Zdeno Chara will benefit from the Islanders and vice versa?