Zdeno Chara reminds us all that fighting him is bad for your health
Say what you will about Zdeno Chara the NHL player in 2021-22. But one thing’s for sure: The man can still cause pure devastation with his hands when the situation…
ELMONT, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 09: Yakov Trenin #13 of the Nashville Predators leaves the ice following a first period fight with Zdeno Chara #33 of the New York Islanders at the UBS Arena on December 09, 2021 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Say what you will about Zdeno Chara the NHL player in 2021-22.
But one thing's for sure: The man can still cause pure devastation with his hands when the situation calls for it.
Just ask Nashville's Yakov Trenin, who felt the wrath of the 44-year-old Chara (and in an absolutely bloody way) in Thursday's head-to-head between the Predators and Islanders on Long Island.
The 6-foot-9 Chara's second fight of the new campaign came in a more-than-familiar fashion, too, as Chara engaged an opponent following a hit that did not sit well with him. And this one saw Chara go right to the source in his search for retribution, as the bout came moments after the Preds' Trenin blasted New York defenseman Sebastian Aho.
As you can see, Chara didn't really give Trenin the chance to say no. He was over there to greet Trenin before Aho was even back to his feet, and gave Trenin the opportunity to ditch his stick and gloves before throwing.
Trenin, who actually has a brief history with Chara dating back to the ex-Bruins captain's Boston days, tried to hang, but truly lost control of keeping up with the giant once the jersey came over his head and blinded him.
Dec 9, 2021; Elmont, New York, USA; New York Islanders defenseman Zdeno Chara (33) fights Nashville Predators center Yakov Trenin (13) during the first period at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
I once described fighting Chara like trying to fight a tree.
Brad Marchand saw that comparison and replied, "That's not a tree. That's just a mean man."
And there's no doubt that Trenin experienced Mean Man Chara here, with the Islander defenseman still throwing punches when the officials stepped in an attempt to intervene and perhaps save Trenin's face some additional leakage.
Dec 9, 2021; Elmont, New York, USA; New York Islanders defenseman Zdeno Chara (33) fights Nashville Predators center Yakov Trenin (13) during the first period at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
This is not the first time that Chara has bloodied an opponent and in a major way.
It was all the way back in 2007 when Chara dropped the gloves with then-Blackhawk David Koci in a spirited bout at TD Garden. Koci, who had recently broken his nose, did not shy away from tangling with the Boston captain, and what unfolded was one of the most one-sided, hellacious beatdowns of the entire Chara fight record.
(Also: I gotta love what classifies as 'HQ' on YouTube videos uploaded in 2013. The future is amazing. I feel so old.)
Dec 9, 2021; Elmont, New York, USA; Nashville Predators center Yakov Trenin (13) fights New York Islanders defenseman Zdeno Chara (33) during the first period at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Ultimately, Chara's fight did not make a difference in the end result for the Islanders.
In what's quickly becoming a lost year for a franchise coming off back-to-back trips to the conference finals, the Isles blew a third-period lead (with the game-tying goal scored by Trenin) and dropped to 6-11-5 on the season, including a brutal 0-5-2 record at the newly-opened UBS Arena in Belmont.
But the Mean Man, though the oldest in the league, proved that there's still hell to be paid if you cross a line when he's on the ice. And who doesn't love to still see that all these years later?
The Bruins and Isles will meet up for the first time this year on Dec. 16 in Belmont.
