By Ty Anderson, 985TheSportsHub.com
Bruins captain Zdeno Chara is committed to playing in 2020-21, and wants it to be with the Bruins, the 43-year-old confirmed Thursday.
“I’m positive I can still play and contribute to this game,” the B’s captain of 14 years said in a year-end Zoom call. “I want to be in Boston. I’m committed. We’ll see what’s gonna happen next.”
Chara’s commitment to a potential 15th season in Boston comes just days after he said he was going to be ‘open-minded’ about his NHL future, and with the NHL on NBC panel seemingly thinking that he was set to walk away from the game after 1,553 games (15th-most in league history) between the Islanders, Senators, and Bruins.
“I can’t really reflect on some of the rumors,” Chara said of Doc Emrick’s commentary. “I have not heard any of these rumors directly, and I dismiss any kind of conversations because it might cause unnecessary distractions. I expressed to my agent I would like him to meet with management and see what the future holds.”
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The 6-foot-9 on-ice leader also noted that he’s confident that he’ll be back in Boston, and that he’s told his agent to meet with Bruins management as soon as possible. And while he wouldn’t outright say it, Chara did make it sound as if it’s going to be Boston or bust when it comes to playing in 2020-21.
“I love Boston, I love the city, and I think we have the best fans in the world,” an all-smiles Chara noted. “I have no plans to move or go anywhere else, so we’ll see what the future holds.”
Chara recorded five goals and 14 points for the second straight season in 2019-20, his plus-28 was the eighth-best in hockey, and he was the most-deployed penalty killer for a Boston kill that ranked third in the NHL (84.3 percent).
He is also one of just six skaters in franchise history to suit up for at least 1,000 games with the Bruins.
Ty Anderson is a writer and columnist for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Yell at him on Twitter: @_TyAnderson.
